Passengers have been given a choice of staying on the ship and finishing in Bergen with the expected departure on Tuesday or flying home from Tallinn.

Viking’s first ocean-going ship was on a 14-night Viking Homelands cruise from Stockholm to Bergen. I’m told free drinks have been offered as well as some free tours today.

When contacted by Ports and Bows, Viking issued the following statement:

“Viking Star experienced a mechanical issue and is currently docked in Tallinn. The mechanical issue is related to the electric transformers in one part of the ship’s propulsion system. Engineers are working on board, but because repairs are expected to continue through the weekend, Viking has decided to cancel the remaining portion of this cruise.

“All guests…have been offered options for continuing their journey to Bergen or returning home from Tallinn at Viking’s expense. This specific mechanical issue is highly unusual, and all guests will receive compensation for the inconvenience. At this point in time no decision has been made regarding the upcoming sailing schedule, but should there need to be any itinerary modifications, Viking customer relations will be in direct contact with all affected guests.”

All for now.

For a weekly newsletter from Ports and Bows with lots of cruise information and the best deals that we can find, click here to sign up: www.canada.com/newsletter.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/viking-star-abandons-cruise-in-tallinn/feed0StarphilreimerWOW! Better bang for buck pre-Christmashttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/phils-wow-deals-of-the-week/685611
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/phils-wow-deals-of-the-week/685611#commentsSun, 02 Aug 2015 03:00:32 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=685611]]>One of the best times to sail the Caribbean or Mexico is before Christmas. While cruise ships are just as busy among the islands, the resorts and hotels are a bit slower and the crowds are somewhat smaller. Most importantly, you’re receiving more bang for your buck.

For a weekly newsletter from Ports and Bows with lots of cruise information and the best deals that we can find, click here to sign up: www.canada.com/newsletter.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/phils-wow-deals-of-the-week/685611/feed0Aerial Labadeephilreimer‘Changeable’ Now Happening For Cruise Lineshttp://o.canada.com/news/changeable-now-happening-for-cruise-lines
http://o.canada.com/news/changeable-now-happening-for-cruise-lines#commentsSat, 01 Aug 2015 03:00:27 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=685574]]>Historically, cruise lines have been slow to change. Changeable was not a word that applied to their corporate dictionaries. But in the past five or six years, change has come quickly. A successful restaurant on a new ship is quickly rolled out to others in the fleet, a hot new market and deployment plans are changed, entertainment goes from mini versions of Broadway shows to the full-blown show, and celebrity entertainers now get on and off ships after one-night stands.

Change works both ways. Here is a couple of changes where incensed online cruise activists had a hand in change:

Take Norwegian as an example. In the space of one month, Norwegian announced you could not take food from restaurants and buffets to eat elsewhere, including your stateroom. Many passengers found it strange that decision came on the heels of an increase in room-service fees, up to $7.95. Norwegian said the decision had to do with cleanliness of the ship, not room-service charges.

Shortly after that, the edict was rescinded, after a roar of online disapproval from passengers.

Royal Caribbean announced to the world that Dynamic Dining — four separate main restaurants — was the wave of the future. Dynamic Dining was introduced on the new Quantum Class ships, replacing the main dining rooms, and was to spread throughout the fleet, starting with the Oasis Class this year. In a 180-degree move, Dynamic Dining will now be featured only on Quantum Class ships.

Again the public spoke. Passengers like the idea of one main dining room, with the same staff and same familiar dining partners.

In another why-the-change mode, popular chef Jamie Oliver introduced his Jamie’s Italian Restaurant on Quantum of the Seas, with a cover charge. But when sister-ship Anthem of the Seas arrived this year, the restaurant pricing shifted to an a la carte structure.

With the ship now sailing in the Mediterranean and still sporting that new smell, the cruise line has reverted back to a fixed fee of $30.

Coincidentally, Norwegian has now decided to change charges for some of its specialty restaurants from fixed fee to a la carte. Depending what you order, it will be more or less. Fixed-fee restaurants included starters, main and dessert. So instead of a fixed cost of $29.99 for the line’s favourite Cagney’s Steakhouse, passengers will pay $4.99 to $7.95 for an appetizer and $17.99 to $29.99 for a main course, with fees for dessert added.

Royal Caribbean’s oldest ship, Majesty of the Seas, was supposed to leave the fleet next year and, after refurbishing, become part of Pullmantur, Royal Caribbean’s Spanish brand. This month, the cruise line announced Majesty of the Seas is staying in the fleet and undergoing a major refurbishment, adding:

• a poolside movie screen
• new restaurant options such as Sabor Taqueria, Izumi Japanese cuisine and Chef’s Table• new water slides
• Voom Internet, one of the fastest at sea (and it’s going to be free!)

When the refurbishment is complete next year, Majesty of the Seas will sail 3-and-4-day cruises out of Port Canaveral (Orlando).

Unless, of course, that becomes “changeable.”

Phil’s Pick of the Week

Obviously, it has be a changeable cruise, so why not one with the free, high-speed Internet on Majesty of the Seas to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral, return?

See a cruise agent or go to royalcaribbean.com and, as always, prices are per person, based on double occupancy.

]]>

http://o.canada.com/news/changeable-now-happening-for-cruise-lines/feed0Majesty of the SeasphilreimerCosta to get next two ‘biggest-ever’ shipshttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/costa-to-get-next-two-biggest-ever-ships
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/costa-to-get-next-two-biggest-ever-ships#commentsFri, 31 Jul 2015 03:00:45 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=685570]]>Carnival Corporation is the biggest cruise company in the world, with over 100 ships from 10 brands, and is building the four biggest ships in the world. When all the berths are full, they’ll be carrying 6,600 passengers.

However, if you want to cruise on one of those new-generation ships, you’ll have to fly to Europe.

The mother company has announced that the second of her 10 brands to receive the ships will be Costa Cruises, based in Italy. This follows news that the first two of the four ships are heading to AIDA Cruises, based in Germany.

The Meyer Werft Shipyard in Turku, Finland will build the Costa ships and that’s a big boost to the Finnish economy.

Delivery of the two new Costa ships is expected in 2019 and 2020. Each will exceed 180,000 gross tons, offering more than 2,600 passenger cabins and 5,200 lower berths to accommodate — comfortably— a capacity of 6,600 guests. That gives it a passenger space ratio of 27, which is quite low (the Queen Mary 2 is 57.6). However, Carnival Corporation points out new technology will mean being able to put the space to better use now.

It’s all about clean cruising these days and the Corporation’s four next-generation cruise ships will be the first to be powered at sea by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Pioneering this industry first in the use of sustainable fuels, these ships will use LNG to generate 100 per cent of their power both in port and on the open sea.

And while they’re going to be an exciting new way for cruisers to travel in Europe, this is also about allowing the company to rid itself of older, less fuel-efficient ships.

Carnival has also made it clear that designing new Costa ships is all about focussing on the Italian culture, whether it be entertainment or food.

Questo è fantastico…simply, that means “This is great!”

All for now.

For a weekly newsletter from Ports and Bows with lots of cruise information and the best deals that we can find, click here to sign up: www.canada.com/newsletter.

http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/costa-to-get-next-two-biggest-ever-ships/feed0CostaphilreimerDogs doing goodhttp://o.canada.com/news/dogs-doing-good
http://o.canada.com/news/dogs-doing-good#commentsMon, 27 Jul 2015 20:26:15 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=685277]]>Some dogs go crazy at the mere squeak of a chew toy. Our childhood mutts went wild over a whiff of pancakes. Mark Grant’s burly St. Bernard, Coal, reserves his hysterics for the sight of his beloved red dog vest, emblazoned with the logo for Therapeutic Paws of Canada (TPOC).

As volunteers with the national non-profit TPOC, Grant takes an eager Coal across Sackville, N.S., imparting the smile-inducing benefits of Coal’s furry companionship to children, seniors, college students and office dwellers — all people in need of a pickup. The do-good dog shows us it’s not just humans who can make a difference.

The presence of pets has long and well-documented benefits for human health.

“We often drop by the paramedic station,” says Grant, who meshes his passion for pooches with his own desire to volunteer. “On a break between shifts, workers come out and sit on the floor with Coal. Some even lie down with him, and you can visibly see their stress level drop.”

Mark Grant, Coal and one of the many kids the volunteer dog has charmed over his years of doing good. [Delta Barrington]

On another TPOC gig, Coal and Grant have made weekly visits to local high schools to help Grade 9 students adapt to their new school environments. It’s not easy to get teens to fess up about their feelings, but Coal proves to be an effective, slightly slobbery, icebreaker.

“Students see Coal, they come sit down and pet him, and all of a sudden they’re telling me about their girlfriend troubles or their parents’ divorce,” says Grant. “They just need an ear to bend, and I’m that ear, through Coal.”

Other TPOC programs include “Paws to Read,” where children with learning challenges read aloud to a perky Shih Tzu and laid-back mastiff. And “Paws Rooms” on university campuses, where dogs give stressed students a reprieve during exams.

A study by Japan’s Azabu University found, just as people experience a boost in oxytocin (the “happy hormone” that lowers blood pressure) when they are with pets, so, too, do the animals they interact with.

released this spring, found, just as people experience a boost in oxytocin (the “happy hormone” that lowers blood pressure) when they are with pets, so, too, do the animals they interact with. No wonder Coal gets psyched at the sight of his volunteer vest.

Eunice Johannson discovered the hard way that any dog can volunteer — just not in any venue.

“I brought my German shirt-haired pointer — a bird dog — to a seniors’ home and almost every resident had a budgie,” she laughs. “That gig didn’t work out so well, but Dexter was fabulous with at-risk youth.”

A registered psychologist and co-founder of the Northern Alberta Pet Therapy Society, Johannson once brought a cohort of canines, including Dexter, into a class of children with behavioural challenges. The students were disengaged from school, and Johannson says they refused to do homework.

Over a full semester with the dogs, the students’ tough veneer melted away. By the last week of school, they had all prepared a research project on their favourite breed. “When each child presented, at least one of the dogs would go up and stand beside them,” recalls Johannson. “The students’ shaking was soon calmed by the dogs’ reassuring presence.”

Even the most unruly of dogs can become do-gooders. The Search Dog Foundation in California rescues unwanted canines from shelters and trains them to perform search missions with firefighters. If you’ve got an adventurous Rover in Alberta you can sign up together as a volunteer search and rescue team.

To get your dog doing good, both Grant and Johannson recommend joining an existing organization to be sure your mutt is matched with an appropriate volunteer opportunity. Therapeutic Paws of Canada has an online list of team leaders in towns across Canada, and various St. John’s Ambulance branches train volunteer therapy dogs.

Next time you catch your pooch snoozing the day away on the couch, think of all the untapped potential he has to change the world.

Brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger founded a platform for social change that includes the international charity Free The Children, the social enterprise Me to We and the youth empowerment movement We Day.

]]>http://o.canada.com/news/dogs-doing-good/feed0PM Pets Coal 1 c Mark Grant (00000002)craigkielburgerMark Grant, Coal and one of the many kids the volunteer dog has charmed over his years of doing good.Pop Forecast for July 27: Mission Impossible, Wet Hot American Summer and more (with video)http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-july-27-mission-impossible-wet-hot-american-summer-and-more-with-video
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-july-27-mission-impossible-wet-hot-american-summer-and-more-with-video#commentsMon, 27 Jul 2015 06:06:22 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=683901]]>Chris Lackner

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Dylan sang, but these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big Release on July 31: Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation

Big Picture: It’s Ethan Hunt’s most impossible mission yet: resurrecting Tom Cruise’s career! He’ll do anything! That means more motorcycle chases! Running shirtless through a hail of bullets! Being tortured in a hail of shirtless-ness! Escaping torture, while shirtless, in a hail of kicks! … Alas, all good things must come to an end … Impossible Mission Force’s very existence is threatened by both bureaucracy and a shadowy organization called “The Syndicate.” (Clearly, the heroes and villains of this big-screen world don’t put a lot of creative thought into organizational titles).

Hunt joins up with Ilsa Faust (Sweden’s Rebecca Ferguson), a mysterious fellow agent as deadly as she is alluring. (For those keeping score at home, Cruise’s new leading lady was born in 1983 — five years after Cruise’s ex-wife Katie Holmes). Will she doublecross Hunt? Probably. Is she a member of The Syndicate? Bet on it. Meanwhile, the lives of IMF team members Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames and Jeremy Renner are also in the line of fire.

Forecast: Cruise has already signed on for a Top Gun sequel. If his star dims any further, expect Risky Business 2 — though watching a grown man turn his parents’ home into a brothel that services teenagers won’t be nearly as funny as it was in the original. Meanwhile, I predict Cruise’s Hunt won’t survive to the end credits and Renner will inherit the franchise’s leading man duties. After two supporting efforts, it’s time for top billing. The Avengers is too crowded with gods, monsters and monster egos. Renner deserves to lead a team of his own.

Amy Poehler revives her role in Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp [Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images]

Big Picture: “They’re younger. They’re hotter. They’re wetter.” Sure, the slogan sounds like Leonardo DiCaprio’s criteria for choosing his next swimsuit-model girlfriend, but it also aptly sums up this prequel miniseries to the 2001 cult comedy. The original cast was brimming with future stars like Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Janeane Garofalo, Christopher Meloni (best camp chef ever!), and Paul Rudd.

They’re all back, joined by the likes of Michael Cera, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Jason Schwartzman and Chris Pine. Like any good summer camp, especially one set in the ’80s, Camp Firewood’s counsellors are endearing, horny morons — but that’s all part of the fun.

Meanwhile, Staten Island Summer is a Saturday Night Live reunion produced by Lorne Michaels. Written by SNL’s Colin Jost, the Netflix original movie features cameos by alumni including Will Forte, Fred Armisen and Cecily Strong. It tells the coming-of-age story of two young friends who work as lifeguards alongside a group of eccentric weirdos who look too young to be guarding a pool. (But it will be hard to beat Aubrey Plaza’s lifeguard in her 2013 comedy The To Do List).

Forecast: There is no more clichéd summer destination than camp or a community pool (except for maybe visiting a movie theatre to watch a desperate Tom Cruise comeback attempt). But they’re the perfect settings for seasonal comedy for a reason: Being a sex-crazed slacker is a prerequisite for employment. Take in the heat and laughter at Camp Firewood or cool off at an epic pool party that would be the envy of members of Animal House’s Delta Tau Chi Fraternity.

Honourable Mention: (Aug. 2, ABC), Bachelor in Paradise

It’s just like the Garden of Eden only with a lot more snakes and no Tree of Knowledge.

Finger Eleven []

MUSIC

Big Release on July 31: Finger Eleven (Five Crooked Lines)

Big Picture: Finger Eleven’s rock goes the primal, raw route. For their first effort in five years, the group decides to double-down on powerful guitar riffs and pounding percussion, instead of lightening things up for the summer (they’ll leave that to the comedians). Recorded in Nashville, the Canadian band looks to capture some of the legendary city’s musical magic — and recapture the Juno-winning mojo of 2007’s Them Vs. You Vs. Me

Forecast: Finger Eleven will make a beeline for your playlist.

Honourable Mention: (July 31), Albert Hammond Jr. (Momentary Masters)

From the title alone, this retro rock outing from The Strokes’ guitarist could be an ode to faded stars of yesteryear. This summer, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Cruise come to mind. (Yes, yet another cheap shot at Cruise. Please don’t tell the Church of Scientology where I live.)

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/pop-forecast-for-july-27-mission-impossible-wet-hot-american-summer-and-more-with-video/feed0Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camppostmedianews1Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of CampFinger Eleven Carnival putting $33 million in port of Barcelonahttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/carnival-putting-33-million-in-port-of-barcelona
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/carnival-putting-33-million-in-port-of-barcelona#commentsMon, 27 Jul 2015 02:57:08 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=685401]]>Barcelona is one of my favourite Mediterranean ports and obviously I’m not alone in my enthusiasm for this magnificent Spanish city.

Carnival Corporation, on behalf of all its brands, is putting $33 million into improving the port for its ships. It is the Corporation’s largest European port and it continues to attract company brands that include Costa, Holland America, Princess, Cunard and six others.

By 2018, cruise on a Carnival brand to Barcelona and you will be moored at a private dock.

Carnival signed an agreement with the Port Authority of Barcelona to build and operate its second private cruise terminal there, to be used by seven of the company’s 10 brands as both a destination and homeport. The Port Authority granted Carnival administrative concessions to operate the cruise terminal and a new, 30-space parking facility.

Building your own ports has been part of Carnival Corporation’s DNA for some time. The list includes Puerta Maya in Cozumel, Grand Turk Cruise Center in Turks & Caicos, Mahogany Bay in Roatan (Honduras) and Long Beach.

There’s also the two private island destinations in the Caribbean, Princess Cays and Half Moon Cay, both currently operated by Carnival.

More are to come.

In October, Carnival will open Amber Cove in the Puerta Plata region of the Dominican Republic. The company will also be spending more money at the Puerta Maya port in Cozumel, adding a third pier so three ships can dock simultaneously, starting with the upcoming winter cruising season..

All for now.

For a weekly newsletter from Ports and Bows with lots of cruise information and the best deals that we can find, click here to sign up: www.canada.com/newsletter.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/carnival-putting-33-million-in-port-of-barcelona/feed0DiademaphilreimerWOW! Si, Senors and Senoritas…South Americahttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/phils-wow-deals-of-the-week/wow-si-senors-and-senoritassouth-america
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/phils-wow-deals-of-the-week/wow-si-senors-and-senoritassouth-america#commentsSun, 26 Jul 2015 03:00:21 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=685191]]>While we’re still in the middle of summer, come fall several ships will be repositioning from North America to South America. On most of these cruises, once they arrive you can stay on board as they make their way around Cape Horn to the east coast of South America, trips that take between 12 and 14 days.

Today, I’m focussing on the repositioning segment of the cruises. Remember to check with cruise travel agents to see of they can do better

For a weekly newsletter from Ports and Bows with lots of cruise information and the best deals that we can find, click here to sign up: www.canada.com/newsletter.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/phils-wow-deals-of-the-week/wow-si-senors-and-senoritassouth-america/feed0ValparaisophilreimerCrystal launches luxury brands (plural)http://o.canada.com/news/crystal-announcement-still-stunning
http://o.canada.com/news/crystal-announcement-still-stunning#commentsSat, 25 Jul 2015 03:00:49 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=685210]]>Last weekend Crystal Cruises made one of the biggest luxury travel announcements I can recall. It went from a two-ship luxury line to a four-brand world of luxury travel with just one announcement.

Crystal is now the brand name for three new divisions: Crystal Yacht Cruises, Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Luxury Air.

The ocean cruise line will more than double its fleet by adding three 1,000-passenger ships. The first cruise on one of these ships is scheduled for 2018.

I was stunned. Most of us in the cruise industry anticipated the announcement to outline further details about the one new ship Crystal is building — but three new brands plus three ocean ships was far beyond anybody’s expectations.

When a luxury line builds new ships, it sets higher standards. With the July 19 announcement, Crystal appears to be raising a bar for its competitors like Regent Seven Seas, Silversea and Seabourn.

Adding 1,000-passenger ships may define a new level of luxury on the oceans. What really stands out is this: There’s one crew member for every passenger — a first at sea.

The ships are big and, considering what’s planned, they need to be. Want a second home? Forget that mansion in the desert…each new ship will have 48 suites for sale on the top deck, ranging in size from

A preview of Crystal suites, which on the Esprit will be home for just 62 passengers

600 to 4,000 square feet (56 to 371 square metres), and they come with all the private amenities one would expect. If you’re just going on a cruise, the size of the suites you’ll rent will start at 400 square feet (37 square metres).

There’s something else unique about these ships. They will have polar-rated hulls, which means they’ll be capable of cruising just about anywhere in the world, including parts of the Arctic and Antarctic. In warmer climates, if there’s not enough on board to keep you entertained, small passenger submarines and a helicopter will be available.

Part 2 of this story allows the wealthiest cruisers to pick and choose their luxury brand. Crystal’s new high-end yacht division will start with one ship, the 62-passenger Crystal Esprit, formerly the Megastar Taurus, now in dry-dock awaiting the Crystal treatment. The yacht — or yachts, as there will surely be more — are meant for soft adventures with a 32-foot (10-metre) boat for tours, jet skis, kayaks, zodiacs and another two-passenger submarine.

River cruise lines that refer to their ships as luxury brands are also going to get more competition. Crystal River Cruises, which plans to launch its fleet with two ships in the spring of 2017, intends to set itself apart by offering more amenities and larger suites to fewer passengers.

And finally, there’s Crystal Luxury Air.

The capacity of Air Canada’sBoeing 787 Dreamliners is 251 passengers. Crystal’s 787 Dreamliner(s) will

carry 60 passengers. The aircraft will fly 28-day, around-the-world itineraries with stops in remote and/or sought-after locales and accommodations in the world’s best hotels, according to Crystal management.

Too much hyperbole?

Listen to what President and CEO Edie Rodriguez says:

“Stand by. There is more to come.”

Phil’s Pick of the Week

Here is a two-week cruise that will give you an idea of what Crystal luxury will cost. It’s from Athens to Venice on the Crystal Esprit.

See a cruise agent or go to crystalcruises.com and, as always, prices are per person, based on double occupancy.

Prices were correct at time of writing.

]]>http://o.canada.com/news/crystal-announcement-still-stunning/feed1Esprit-yachtphilreimerA preview of Crystal suites, which on the Esprit will be home for just 62 passengersCrystal Luxury Air's first plane will be a Boeing 787 DreamlinerBrody Jenner on having a fivesome, losing his virginityhttp://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/brody-jenner-on-sex-having-a-fivesome-losing-his-virginity
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/brody-jenner-on-sex-having-a-fivesome-losing-his-virginity#commentsFri, 24 Jul 2015 16:20:06 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=685300]]>Ever wonder what it’s like to experience sex with Brody Jenner? Apparently, there’s recording equipment involved. Plus at least a few other people in the room, one of them possibly a celebrity.

Relax. We’re talking about Sex With Brody, the TV show based on his YouTube project, The Brody Jenner & Dr. Mike Dow Podcast.

Airing Fridays on E!, Sex With Brody features the son of Caitlyn Jenner and stepbrother of the Kardashian sisters, talking about, well, sex. Relationship expert Dr. Mike Dow, comedian Stevie Ryan and various guest stars fill out the roundtable centred on love, relationships and the intricacies of intimacy.

Speaking with Postmedia News, the former star of The Hills (and former boyfriend of Avril Lavigne) lifted the sheets on Sex With Brody, whether he’d have a family member on the show, and his most memorable sexual romps.

Q Sitting around and talking about sex must pretty much be your dream job.

A Absolutely. Honestly, we have so much fun on this show. There’s just so much stuff. Each of those episodes we shoot for over an hour, and they have to cut it down to 22 minutes.

Dr. Mike Dow, left, comedian Stevie Ryan, and Brody Jenner make up an expert threesome on the new show Sex With Brody [E!]

Q You’ve had celebrities like Christina Milian and Nadine Velazquez on the show. Is it hard to get guests to be totally honest about their sex lives?

A In the beginning they were very nervous — they didn’t know what was going to be asked. But when they got on the show, they really warmed up. It was almost like you couldn’t stop them.

Q Would you have anyone from your family as a guest on your show?

A Absolutely. It would be awesome.

Q How old were you when you got the birds-and-bees talk from your parents?

A I have no idea when I got that talk. The only thing I remember is just basically have fun and use protection.

Q Do you remember how old were you when you lost your virginity?

A I was 15. It was a terrible experience, like everybody says. It was in a Jacuzzi, you couldn’t feel anything and it was too hot. It was just a nightmare.

Q What’s the best piece of sex advice you’ve got?

A To not be selfish. Make sure that your partner has reached climax before you think about yourself.

Brody Jenner hosts love and relationship show Sex With Brody [E!]

Q There are a lot of misconceptions about sex — did you have any when you were growing up?

A Maybe that it has to be done between two people. (Laughs.) I’m joking about that.

Q Well, in first episode, you did talk about having a fivesome once, so …

A Well, I learned that it is not as exciting as it sounds. It’s actually a nightmare. There’s just too much going on. Too much for me to handle, for sure.

Q How did your girlfriend (Kaitlynn Carter), feel about you being so open about your sex life?

A She wanted to kill me. Nah, I’m just kidding. She was on board, totally confident. She trusts me. We have a great relationship — very open, very honest. She knew what the show was going to be like and she fully supports it.

Q You’ve been on reality TV for years — is there anything that you’re determined to keep private?

A Not at this stage. Geez, I’m pretty screwed at this point. But to be honest, when I have children I think that would be something that I would keep very private. This industry is a wild one and I just choose to live my life. The most important thing is that my family and friends know who I am.

Q Any regrets about anything you’ve revealed on reality TV or otherwise?

A No. Absolutely not. I don’t live life with regrets. If I do have something that I think is a mistake, then I just live with it and grow as a person.

Sex With Brody airs Fridays, E!

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/brody-jenner-on-sex-having-a-fivesome-losing-his-virginity/feed0Sex with Brodymhank2012Sex with BrodySex With BrodyRiver cruisers: Check on those water levelshttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/river-cruisers-check-on-those-water-levels
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/river-cruisers-check-on-those-water-levels#commentsFri, 24 Jul 2015 03:00:52 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=685280]]>Low water levels in the Danube River are creating issues for several cruise lines, so if you’re cruising there in the next couple of weeks, contact your agent, the river line and keep in touch with their blogs for early updates.

On river cruises, you don’t have to worry about your trip being delayed by storms at sea. What you do have to be concerned with are high and low water. It doesn’t happen that often but, like storms at sea, it is a cruising fact of life on rivers like the Danube and the Rhine.

In the spring, I was caught up in high water on the Rhine outside of Basel and spent a couple of days next to a lock. As a bonus, we were taken to the French town of Colmar and that proved to be an unexpected delight. Then came the choices. One, we could continue by bus and stay in hotels while taking in all the spots to Amsterdam, as planned on the cruise, and hope the ship caught up. Two, we could fly home.

I had another cruise to catch so I elected to fly to London and spend four days there. If you’re going to be stuck anywhere, London is the best.

Besides those two options, there can be another when river water is too high or too low:A ship of equal size could be waiting on the other side of the water problem, then passengers on both trade places, the ships turn around and you’re on your way.

However, all of this takes time to plan and organize so you have to be patient.

I’m not in favour of the bus-and-hotel, make-sure-you-see-all-the sights option. I love river cruises for a couple of reasons, one of which is no-muss, no-fuss — unpack and pack once and that’s it.

The problem is just like a storm on the ocean, or a mechanical issue…you usually won’t know about it until you’re on the way. On the other hand, with the current low water on the Danube, I see that river cruise lines are able to get ahead of the curve when they have information from the Europe weather people who are predicting such levels.

From time to time, it’s all a part of river cruising.

Is there a best time to go? No. Summer low water could occur in the fall. The hot weather in Europe this spring could produce high water with the rush of snow from the mountains. “Changeable” is the buzz word for the world’s weather these days and that especially applies to European rivers.

Most cruises go ahead with no problems. But at times high and low water can be a problem in locks and under bridges, some of which were built over 1,000 years ago…and they are not going anywhere.

All for now.

For a weekly newsletter from Ports and Bows with lots of cruise information and the best deals that we can find, click here to sign up: www.canada.com/newsletter.

http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/river-cruisers-check-on-those-water-levels/feed0High waterphilreimerWhy Toronto Maple Leafs new GM Lou Lamoriello stopped winning in New Jerseyhttp://o.canada.com/sports/hockey/nhl/why-toronto-maple-leafs-new-gm-lou-lamoriello-stopped-winning-in-new-jersey
http://o.canada.com/sports/hockey/nhl/why-toronto-maple-leafs-new-gm-lou-lamoriello-stopped-winning-in-new-jersey#commentsThu, 23 Jul 2015 17:28:54 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=685284]]>Postmedia’s Steve Simmons discusses the Toronto Maple Leafs decision to hire Lou Lamoriello, whose teams in New Jersey have not had success in the playoffs in the past number of years.]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/hockey/nhl/why-toronto-maple-leafs-new-gm-lou-lamoriello-stopped-winning-in-new-jersey/feed0NJP3-120.jpgpostmedianews1Royal Caribbean shore excursions segmentedhttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/royal-caribbean-shore-excursions-segmented
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/royal-caribbean-shore-excursions-segmented#commentsThu, 23 Jul 2015 03:00:12 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=684362]]>At a recent Royal Caribbean press conference in New York, talk turned from its new Quantum Class ship — Anthem of the Seas — to new shore-excursion options that will be introduced in the near future.

Rather than lump them together, shore excursions are broken down into a variety of special-interest categories:

Active AdventuresThis includes just as the name implies — more active tours — and it’s not only at the “look at the shape I’m in” level. According to Royal Caribbean, it’s for every level, from riding a dune buggy and boat rides to zip lining and rappelling through small waterfalls.

Family ConnectionsAgain, just that: tours that are cut out for all family members from kids to grandparents.

Royal Tour ChallengeGood fun and a little friendly competition on port days, designed for families and groups. Royal Caribbean gives two examples: a game of laser tag where you hit targets to earn points, and a 5-on-5 soccer game.

Culture and SightsReminiscent of a lot of the tours we now see, exploring history and culture with local experts.

Culinary DelightsThis showcases excursions that introduce guests to local chefs, and cover the range from farm to kitchen.

Caring DiscoveriesIt sounds much like what Carnival’s fathom line has planned, to make a difference in places the ship visits by selecting tours that help wildlife, the environment and local communities.

There is a new breed of cruiser out there and, while there’s still a market for bus tours, new cruisers are looking for more.

To me, what Royal Caribbean plans to do has the feel of what their sister line Azamara offers on its ships.

CRUISE NEWS YOU CAN USE

Want to meet some award-winning stars? Now you can. Remember Eva Marie Saint? The Academy Award winner for the 1950’s North by Northwest and On the Waterfront will be among headliners on the next TCM Classic Cruise, in November on the Disney Magic. Others on the 5-night cruise are Lou Gossett Jr., Leslie Caron, Roger Corman, Ruta Lee and quiz show icon and Canadian Alex Trebek.

All for now.

For a weekly newsletter from Ports and Bows with lots of cruise information and the best deals that we can find, click here to sign up: www.canada.com/newsletter.

As Degrassi hastily airs the last half of its 14th and final season on MTV – 12 episodes in two weeks – the Canadian teen drama is reveling in its fourth Emmy nomination for outstanding children’s program.

And while its lengthy run is a rare gift in Canadian TV, and the show will find new life on Family Channel next year, the phrase “no good deed goes unpunished” comes to mind.

But Degrassi co-creator Linda Schuyler is pragmatic.

“It’s been a 14-year run, and there aren’t many producers who can say that in this country, right? We’ve had just such a wonderful relationship with both our American and Canadian broadcasters, and it is what it is.”

Degrassi wraps up July 31 on MTV. A new version of the show for Family Channel, dubbed Degrassi: Next Class, is now in production and will air the first of 20 episodes in early 2016. In the U.S., the show moves from TeenNick to Netflix.

Truth is, like any 14-year-old, Degrassi was ready to explore new horizons.

“Even before we knew what was going to happen with Degrassi, creatively we had already come to the conclusion that because we were going to graduate such a big chunk of kids, we needed to take a hard look at where we were going to go from here,” Schuyler says.

“We realized that when the show started as Degrassi: The Next Generation 14 years ago, a lot of the current audience wasn’t even born, which led us to a lot of research on Generation Z. We had a different audience.”

For example, Gen Z teens tend to watch TV shows online, making Netflix an ideal fit. (At least internationally. Degrassi: Next Class won’t initially be available on the streaming service in Canada, Australia and France.)

Although working with Netflix allows producers more control, without the fear of being cancelled mid-season or being hassled by censors, Schuyler says the extra freedom won’t change the core of the show.

“We’re reassuring young people they aren’t alone, we’re celebrating diversity, and all of those basic themes and building blocks that have been there for years will continue to be there,” she says.

“But what will be fresher is (Degrassi’s take on) social media. It’s so important to this generation’s audience, and that’s going to have big play in our storylines.”

Demetrius Joyette, left, and Melinda Shankar in Degrassi. [MTV/Bell]

Fortunately, just as a kid who’s been shuffled from school to school is forced to adapt to new circumstances, Degrassi’s used to reinventing itself.

What began as The Kids of Degrassi Street in 1979 morphed into Degrassi Junior High in 1987, Degrassi High in 1989 and its current iteration, Degrassi: The Next Generation (eventually known as just Degrassi), in 2001.

Over the years, the Toronto-filmed franchise has aired on CBC, CTV, Much and MTV. It’s tackled teen pregnancy, drug abuse, eating disorders, sexting, school shootings, and gay and transgender teens, among other angsty storylines.

“I’m a great believer that our big stories are important, but our little stories are important too because that’s what the whole teenage experience is about,” says Schuyler, a former teacher.

The most recent season has focused on cheerleaders using the fictional social networking site OomfChat (similar to Snapchat) to sell topless pictures of themselves. The season finale will see many characters leaving Degrassi Community School.

The students of Degrassi [MTV/Bell]

“This chapter ends with graduation, and we graduated a whole bunch of fan-favourites: Clare and Drew, Becky, Alli, Jenna, Dallas, Imogen, Connor. And we also say goodbye to Eli, who graduated the year before,” Schuyler says.

Many other characters will move to Degrassi: Next Class, among them Winston, Tristan, Miles, Frankie, Tiny, Zig and Maya. And as a special treat for old-school fans, there might be some cameos with some of the Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High cast.

“We have a very special episode coming up. When we hit the 15th episode (of Degrassi: Next Class), that will be the 500th episode of Degrassi, and we’re hoping to include some special cameo performances in that,” says Schuyler, laughing.

“I will say no more at this point! You will have to wait till later.”

Amanda Stepto, left, as Spike, and Cathy Keenan as Liz on an early Degrassi episode [PNG]

Also a possibility? An appearance from Degrassi superfan Lena Dunham, of Girls fame.

“When she was up here on her book tour, we actually had discussions with her agent seeing if we could make a cameo work, but unfortunately the timing didn’t. But doesn’t mean it’s a closed book for the future. Certainly the door’s open for discussion.”

So are, apparently, Schuyler’s prospects with the Degrassi franchise. While the bubbly 60-something-year-old says she and husband/producing partner Stephen Stohn are developing a new show, which could go to pilot by January, Degrassi’s still her favourite playground.

“My theory about life and retirement is that when work stops being fun, you should stop doing it, and I’m still having a lot of fun being the executive producer of Degrassi,” she says. “So I have no immediate plans to go anywhere.”

Season 14B of Degrassi airs weeknights on MTV

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/degrassi-creator-talks-show-ending-surprise-cameos-in-new-class/feed0Degrassimhank2012DegrassiDegrassiDegrassiDegrassi Junior HighNorwegian leads league in gratuitieshttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/norwegian-leads-league-in-gratuities
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/norwegian-leads-league-in-gratuities#commentsWed, 22 Jul 2015 03:00:47 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=684359]]>Norwegian is now in first place when it comes to gratuties, having just hiked its “service fees” by four per cent to $13.50 a day.

And if you’re in a suite, you’d think Norwegian would want to throw you a bone after all the money you’re already paying. No luck…your fees are going up to $15.50 a day.

All this happens in less than two weeks, and it comes on top of an eight per cent fee increase, making it 12 per cent since April when the cost of living in America for 2014 was only 1.75 per cent, according to the U.S. government.

Any passenger who books a Norwegian cruise by July 31 can pre-pay gratuities at the current rate, and if you have already pre-paid gratuities you won’t be affected.

I think social media websites about cruising are going to be on overload with this news. Suppose you’re cruising with a family of four. Multiply that and you’re paying $378 for a 7-day cruises in gratuities.

Norwegian’s increase comes at a time when premium line Azamara has eliminated gratuities, as have luxury brands Crystal and Seabourn.

Scenic was the first river line to go all-inclusive (no gratuities), and Uniworld is another on the rivers that have eliminated that practice.

Norwegian’s announcements comes just after another one, that several specialty restaurants will no longer have fixed fees in favour of a-la-carte pricing.

CRUISE NEWS YOU CAN USE

The coastal cruise ship St. Laurent, damaged in a lock collision in June, is now back in service. On June 21, the St. Laurent collided with a concrete wall bumper while going through the Eisenhower Lock on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Two cruises were cancelled while the damage was repaired.

All for now.

For a weekly newsletter from Ports and Bows with lots of cruise information and the best deals that we can find, click here to sign up: www.canada.com/newsletter.

http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/norwegian-leads-league-in-gratuities/feed0ncl-diningphilreimerDining changes by Royal Caribbean, Norwegianhttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/dining-changes-by-royal-caribbean-norwegian
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/dining-changes-by-royal-caribbean-norwegian#commentsTue, 21 Jul 2015 18:54:16 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=685204]]>Dining takes priority today. Dynamic Dining was hailed by Royal Caribbean as the latest and greatest way of dining on cruise ships. It’s on all the Quantum Class ships and it was supposed to be rolled out on Oasis Class ships.

Now the fanfare has subsided, and guess what? The decision has been made that Dynamic Dining will NOT be rolled out to any other ships in the fleet.

This is a big turnaround from comments from Royal Caribbean’s President, Michael Bayley in April, when he announced that Dynamic Dining would be the future. Apparently not, and it’s a good thing the management team discovered that early in the process.

It all comes down to passenger feedback. Diners on cruise ships — at least on Royal Caribbean’s ships — love to come back to the same table with the same staff and same new friends each night. My guess is they like to catch up on each other’s day in ports, a little ship gossip…all the things a social group would engage in over dinner.

The passengers have spoken and good for Royal Caribbean for listening.

Still with dining, here’s another change…

Starting in October, when the new ship Norwegian Escape sets sail, many of the restaurants will switch from one cover charge to a la carte pricing.

Menus for La Cucina, Le Bistro, Cagney’s Steakhouse and Bayamo, a new restaurant, will be priced a la carte. Moderno Churrascaria and Teppanyaki will retain their cover charges — $19.95 and $29.95,

Norwegian’s steak house, Cagney’s, is one of the restaurants where a-la-carte pricing will apply

respectively — as will entertainment dining such as Wine Lovers the Musical and For The Record: The Brat Pack.

That is just the start. Norwegian plans to roll out a-la-carte dining across the entire fleet starting in January.

Here are some examples.

Starters at Cagney’s will range from $4.99 to $7.95 and main courses from $17.99 to $29.99. In Le Bistro, bouillabaisse and pan-seared jumbo bay scallops will start at $15.99 each. Italian venue La Cucina will offer main dishes like osso bucco alla Milanese or pan-seared sea bass filet at $12.99 each.

Anyone who purchases a Norwegian specialty dining package can enjoy meals at La Cucina, Le Bistro and Cagney’s at no additional charge.

The main dining rooms, the buffet, O’Sheehan’s and all the Asian venues except Teppanyaki and Wasabi will continue to be included in the cruise price.

There are exceptions, so check it out online if you have booked or check with your cruise agent.

Interestingly, Jamie Oliver’s on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class ships has reverted from a-la-carte pricing to a fixed price at $30.

All of these changes will be worth watching.

CRUISE NEWS YOU CAN USE

Cunard is celebrating its 175th anniversary and to ensure the tradition continues, Queen Mary 2 will undergo a 25-day dry dock refurbishment next summer, starting May 27. At that length, this will be a major refurbishment…and it will include having both a lamp post and a fire hydrant installed on the area reserved for dog walking, so that dogs from either side of the pond will feel equally at home.

All for now.

For a weekly newsletter from Ports and Bows with lots of cruise information and the best deals that we can find, click here to sign up: www.canada.com/newsletter.

What made this ordinary Connecticut girl, now 16, the target of such wrath? Her weight.

Del Monte, who put on more than 23 kg, when she started taking medication for a health condition, started to believe her bullies.

“I hated my body. I hated myself,” says Del Monte, who once tried to overdose on her prescription medication.

Wendy Craig, a professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., told us more than half of all Canadian youth who are bullied are picked on because of their physical appearance.

“As a young person’s body mass index increases, so does their chances of being bullied,” says Craig, who is also the scientific co-director of the Canadian organization, PREVnet, which provides research and resources on bullying.

Fat shaming — a popular moniker for belittling and bullying people because of their size — is incredibly common. It may be the only form of discrimination society still tolerates.

Look at this summer’s blockbuster, Spy. The movie elicits belly laughs because the main character, Susan Cooper (played by Melissa McCarthy), is obese. Would audiences snort into soft drinks at the sight of a visible minority, or disabled person, getting into a tiny car, or toppling off a scooter on a cobblestone street?

“As a young person’s body mass index increases, so does their chances of being bullied,” says Wendy Craig, a professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont.”

In Canada, close to one-third of young people are overweight or obese. We aren’t offering solutions on that complex health concern. Thankfully, professionals around the globe are working on it. But youth empowerment is our life’s work. And we are advocating for a world where young people aren’t ashamed of their body size.

A Yale University study published in 2013 reveals as many as 80 per cent of U.S. parents surveyed believe schools should create anti-bullying policies with specific safeguards for students who have weight issues.

Melissa McCarthy’s obesity makes her the butt of all jokes in “Spy.” [Larry Horricks/20th Century Fox]

In the U.K., University College London researcher, Dr. Sarah Jackson, says “fattism” should be illegal. Jackson made the comment earlier this year while releasing research that shows adults who were made to feel ashamed of their size were more likely to have depression. She pointed out that the U.K.’s Equality Act 2010 legally protects individuals from ageism, sexism and racism, but there are no laws banning weight discrimination.

If turning fat shaming into a legal offence sounds extreme, consider the struggle overweight youth face. A recent study out of Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute found obese teens were 20 per cent less likely to graduate secondary school than thinner students, regardless of their socioeconomic upbringing.

We all need to help kids — and adults — challenge their negative perceptions of others, and make sure they know the concept of acceptance includes size.

Perhaps what’s most important is to make sure youth with weight issues find their passions. Working with children and teens, we’ve seen this is crucial to developing coping skills and good self-esteem.

Del Monte found solace and healing in music and had the encouragement of her mother to push forward.

“I heard [the One Direction song] What Makes You Beautiful the day after I tried to kill myself and it gave me a lot of hope,” Del Monte told us at We Day Illinois.

Today, she is thriving, writing her own songs and blogging on losergurl.com. As a passionate advocate against weight-based bullying, Del Monte created the hashtag, #BeBrave to encourage young people to share their stories and support one another.

“I want people to know that they’re not alone, and that I’ve been through the same thing,” says Del Monte, who encourages bullied youth to be their own biggest allies.

Our society has made epic strides in embracing diversity. Let’s stand beside the Allys of the world, and show young people their self-worth is so much more than a number on a scale.

Brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger founded a platform for social change that includes the international charity Free The Children, the social enterprise Me to We and the youth empowerment movement We Day.

You soon will be able to fly, enjoy yachting, cruising and river cruising all under the luxury brand known as Crystal.

Crystal Cruises, purchased four months ago by Genting Hong Kong, will turn the two-ship, luxury ocean cruise line into a luxury “one call” — using the Crystal brand to add new ships, new yachts, new river cruise ships and a new airline.

Crystal previously announced it would be building a new ship but this announcement floored the industry yesterday.

Not one but THREE new luxury ships are going to be built. They are large (100,000 tonnes) but will only

Crystal’s new ocean ships will start arriving in 2018 with by far the largest suites at sea

carry 1,000 passengers with one-to-one service from the 1,000 crew members. The letter of intent has already been signed with Lloyd Werft Shipyards in Bremerhaven, Germany.

The ships will be the most luxurious afloat with suites twice as large as any of the luxury brands and they’ll feel even bigger with higher than normal ceilings. And what would be the most luxurious line afloat be without submarines and helicopters as part of the whiz-bang passenger toys.

You can even expect to sail all around the world on these new ships, and that means the Arctic and Antarctic, too, as they will be built with polar-rated hulls.

In a unique move, President and CEO Edie Rodriquez told USA Today there will be 48 residences offered as second homes on the top deck. Your own restaurant, reception and facilities go with your new home at sea.

All of this was announced Sunday during the President’s Cruise on the Crystal Serenity.

The first of these super luxury ships will be sailingby 2018. The Crystal River Cruise ships will be sailing by 2017 with two custom-built vessels with the same luxury appointments and service you will find on the ocean liners.

The high-end, yacht-style cruising is even closer. In fact, you can book now for its first cruise in December.

Each of the yachts will have its own two-person submarine, among other “toys”

Carrying only 63 passengers, the Crystal Esprit will offer lots of soft adventure with zodiacs, jet skis, kayaks and — yes — it, too, will have a two-person submarine. Crystal is now open for bookings.

No date for the start-up of Crystal Luxury Air but the fact that it will be the latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner and will carry only 60 passengers — instead of almost 300 it was designed for — tells me to expect luxury suites on board. Just a guess.

Crystal on your table defines luxury. Now Crystal, the brand, will define luxury in the air, as well as on the rivers and oceans of the world.

I’ll have a lot more for you Saturday in my column, in all the Postmedia papers across Canada, and it will be here online, too.

CRUISE NEWS YOU CAN USE

This is a unique guarantee. Hurtigruten is offering passengers another cruise if they fail to see the northern lights on a Norwegian winter voyage. The coastal and expedition cruise company said the guarantee is being offered from October 1 through February 28 on 12-day Norwegian Coastal voyages. If the lights, also known as aurora borealis, don’t make an appearance Hurtigruten will give passengers the choice of a free 7-day Classic Voyage North or 6-day Classic Voyage South on departures between October 2016 and March 2017.

All for now.

For a weekly newsletter from Ports and Bows with lots of cruise information and the best deals that we can find, click here to sign up: www.canada.com/newsletter.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/crystal-cruises/feed1Esprit-3philreimerCrystal's new ocean ships will carry just 1,000 passengers, with a crew member ratio of 1-to-1Each of the yachts will have its own two-person submarine, among other "toys"Brett Favre returns to Lambeau Field for Packers Hall of Fame ceremony, jersey retirementhttp://o.canada.com/sports/brett-favre-returns-to-lambeau-field-for-packers-hall-of-fame-ceremony-jersey-retirement
http://o.canada.com/sports/brett-favre-returns-to-lambeau-field-for-packers-hall-of-fame-ceremony-jersey-retirement#commentsSun, 19 Jul 2015 03:36:22 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684339&preview_id=684339]]>GREEN BAY, Wis. — Brett Favre headed up the Lambeau Field tunnel, a path that he had walked dozens of times.

He turned left at the end, then walked through a set of double doors. The Green Bay Packers’ locker room was just down the hall on the right.

And that’s when it finally it him. He was back at his football home.

The three-time MVP quarterback had his No. 4 jersey retired by the Packers on Saturday night before being inducted into the franchise’s Hall of Fame in a ceremony inside Lambeau Field. It was the first time in the team’s storied history that a player received both honours at the same time.

With his wife, Deanna, at his side former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre waves to fans as he walks off Lambeau Field prior to his induction into he Packers Hall of Fame and having his No. 4 jersey retired, Saturday, July 18, 2015, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer) []

“It was like I never left. It was a great feeling. It was kind of weird because I had been here for a couple of hours and just walked off of Lambeau,” Favre said before the ceremony. “It’s kind of funny how things are triggered. And then it was kind of a sigh of relief almost.”

It was a moment that some Packers fans thought would never come, not after the “will he-or-won’t he retire” drama that marked the end of his 16-year tenure in Titletown. He was traded to the New York Jets in 2008, then played two more seasons with division rival Minnesota starting in 2009 before calling it quits for good.

Now a reconciliation that has been years in the making is finally complete.

“Congratulations Brett. Welcome home,” Packers Hall of Fame president Perry Kidder said while presenting Favre with a ring and bronzed football.

Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, left, watches a highlight reel on his career as his daughters Breleigh, right, and Brittany, middle, and Brittany’s husband, Alex Mallion, cheer at Lambeau Field on Saturday, July 18, 2015, in Green Bay, Wis. Favre was inducted into to the Packers Hall of Fame and had his No. 4 jersey retired. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer) []

Fans, many of them wearing No. 4 jerseys, gave him standing ovations. Family members, friends, along with former teammates and coaches watched while Favre spoke for about 50 minutes, pausing at least once to collect his emotions.

“Yes, I have been away from Green Bay for quite a while. A lot of people that I am close to have sort of forgotten the body of work” with the Packers, Favre told attendees. “Simply because of what has happened and the departure when I left. Of course, that is all forgotten. Today is a special day.”

His hair is greying. But in a way, it was as if Favre had never left.

He cracked jokes. He held the audience captive with locker room stories and vivid anecdotes of former team officials, coaches and teammates. He resumed his love affair with fans.

Tailgaters milled around parking lots as if they were getting ready for a Bears game. More than 67,000 people were expected to watch the ceremony on video boards inside the stadium bowl.

Favre said he would try not to get emotional on Saturday night. He was fighting back tears by the time he was addressing fans on the field by microphone on a sticky afternoon before his induction ceremony.

Chants of “MVP! MVP! MVP!” ringed the stadium.

“The reception, it was hard to put in words,” Favre said. “Boy, was that moving.”

Former general manager Ron Wolf and former coach Mike Holmgren were among those who feted Favre. The quarterback was introduced at the event by his former roommate, centre Frank Winters.

A banner with Favre’s retired number was unfurled high above the stadium atrium. Favre will return to Lambeau on Thanksgiving night, when his No. 4 will join other retired numbers on the stadium’s interior facade in a ceremony during the Packers’ game against the Bears.

Holmgren likened Favre to a son he never had. Wolf said it was an honour to laud “and I realize I’m biased — the best player ever to play for the Green Bay Packers.”

Wolf acquired Favre in 1992 from the Atlanta Falcons for a first-round draft pick. It was the move that would spark the revival of one of the league’s marquee franchises.

What followed was a slew of records, including the NFL mark for quarterback durability of 297 straight regular-season games. The Packers won the Super Bowl in 1996, beating New England 35-21. They returned to the Super Bowl the following season, losing to Denver 31-24.

“I understand that this night is ‘about me,’ but I would choose to say it’s about us,” Favre said, gesturing to those sitting behind him and referring his teammates. “And that’s why I’m here today. It has nothing to do with me. But again, I’m extremely honoured and that’s probably an understatement.”

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/brett-favre-returns-to-lambeau-field-for-packers-hall-of-fame-ceremony-jersey-retirement/feed0Packers-Favre-Football.jpgtheassociatedpresscanadaWith his wife, Deanna, at his side former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre waves to fans as he walks off Lambeau Field prior to his induction into he Packers Hall of Fame and having his No. 4 jersey retired, Saturday, July 18, 2015, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, left, watches a highlight reel on his career as his daughters Breleigh, right, and Brittany, middle, and Brittany's husband, Alex Mallion, cheer at Lambeau Field on Saturday, July 18, 2015, in Green Bay, Wis. Favre was inducted into to the Packers Hall of Fame and had his No. 4 jersey retired. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)Rival Americans surge ahead of Canada in Pan Am gold medal standingshttp://o.canada.com/sports/rival-americans-surge-ahead-of-canada-in-pan-am-gold-medal-standings
http://o.canada.com/sports/rival-americans-surge-ahead-of-canada-in-pan-am-gold-medal-standings#commentsSun, 19 Jul 2015 03:07:13 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684324&preview_id=684324]]>TORONTO — After holding off the United States for most of the first half of the 2015 Pan American Games, the host Canadians slipped behind their archrivals in the gold medal standings for the first time.

Canada started slow on Day 8 of the Games before rebounding to win 12 medals, including three gold.

The U.S. now has 50 gold, 41 silver and 44 bronze medals to lead both the gold and overall table.

Canada is second in both categories with 48 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze. The hosts, which have already eclipsed their gold and overall totals from the 2011 Pan Am Games, are still well on their way to their goal of finishing in the top two overall. Brazil is well back in third with 28 gold and 86 overall medals.

Canada’s Ryan Cochrane celebrates his gold medal win in the men’s 1,500-metre freestyle swimming final at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto on Saturday, July 18, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn []

Canada was led on Day 8 by gold medals from the men’s softball team, cyclist Hugo Barrette and veteran swimmer Ryan Cochrane.

The softball team capped a slow afternoon for Canada with a 2-1 win over Venezuela for their eighth straight Pan Am gold.

Brad Ezekiel provided the heroics with a game-winning two-run home run to left-centre in the sixth inning.

Pitcher Sean Cleary settled down after some early control issues and kept Venezuelan hitters off-balance until the seventh. He gave up a run then but held on.

“We wanted to bring a swagger back to Canada and I think we’ve done that,” Canada coach John Stuart said, adding it was particularly satisfying to win gold on home soil.

Canada’s men’s softball team celebrates with its gold medals after edging Venezuela 2-1 at the Pan Am Games on Saturday July 18, 2015, in Ajax, Ont. Veronica Henri/Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network []

“It’s history. It’s never been done before. That’s something these guys can be very proud of,” he said.

After Canada completed the final out, Venezuelan players weren’t happy about how the Canadians were celebrating and tempers briefly flared.

“That’s a shame. It put a damper on our celebration,” Stuart said. “That’s their problem to deal with. I don’t know what happened. I was just trying to get our guys off the field to celebrate and enjoy the moment.”

The native of Cap-aux-Meules, Que., swept Trinidad and Tobago’s Njisane Phillip 2-0 in the best-of-three final. Barrette clinched the victory with a perfectly executed slip move underneath to pass Phillip and take a lead he’d never relinquish.

“I wanted the front, I took the front,” he said. “I was confident, I wanted to win for the home crowd.”

Canada has five gold medals so far on the track at the velodrome in Milton, Ont.

Canada closed out the swimming competition with four medals Saturday, including a gold for Victoria native Cochrane in the men’s 1,500-metre freestyle.

Cochrane set a new Pan Am record by winning in a time of 15 minutes 6.40 seconds.

It’s the second gold of the Games for Cochrane, who won the men’s 400 freestyle on Friday.

“I sang O Canada both times fairly loudly,” Cochrane said. “It’s one of the best sporting experiences of my life. It ranks up there with winning an Olympic medal because winning at home and the ‘Go Canada’ chants, you don’t find that everywhere.”

The women’s 4×100 medley relay team took silver, while Sydney Pickrem earned a bronze medal in the women’s 200 individual medley. The men’s 4×100 relay added another bronze.

Canada finished with eight gold, 10 silver and nine bronze in swimming competition, holding its own against powerful teams from the U.S. and Brazil.

Canadian freestyle wrestlers added three medals on Saturday.

Arjun Gill of Quesnel, B.C., took silver in the men’s 97 kilogram, Korey Jarvis of Eliot Lake, Alta., earned the silver in the men’s 125 kg and Toronto’s Tamerlan Tagziev took bronze in the men’s 86 kg.

Canada finished wrestling competition with eight medals — three gold, three silver and two bronze.

Earlier, Lee Parkhill of Oakville, Ont., won bronze in the men’s laser sailing, finishing the race with 12 points.

Vancouver rhythmic gymnast Patricia Bezzoubenko won a bronze medal in the individual all-around competition, holding on to third place despite dropping the ribbon early in her final routine at the Toronto Coliseum.

Bezzoubenko won five gold medals at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Winnipeg’s Jay Lyon won bronze in the men’s individual archery competition, defeating American Zach Garrett 6-0 in the third-place match.

There will be more medals on the way for Canada, as the men’s baseball team advanced to the final with a 7-1 win over Puerto Rico.

Elsewhere, Canada beat Cuba 71-68 in women’s basketball to set up a semifinal meeting with Brazil.

Canada’s women’s beach volleyball team advanced to the semifinals with a 2-0 rout of Costa Rica, while the women’s volleyball team won a 3-1 preliminary-round match against Cuba.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/rival-americans-surge-ahead-of-canada-in-pan-am-gold-medal-standings/feed0PANAM2015-CANADA-CYCLING-TRACKthecanadianpressCanada's Ryan Cochrane celebrates his gold medal win in the men's 1,500-metre freestyle swimming final at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto on Saturday, July 18, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank GunnCanada's men's softball team celebrates with its gold medals after edging Venezuela 2-1 at the Pan Am Games on Saturday July 18, 2015, in Ajax, Ont. Veronica Henri/Toronto Sun/Postmedia NetworkWOW! Good deals BEFORE Christmashttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/phils-wow-deals-of-the-week/wow-good-deals-before-christmas
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/phils-wow-deals-of-the-week/wow-good-deals-before-christmas#commentsSun, 19 Jul 2015 03:00:31 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=684121]]>Christmas cruises are expensive. Today, here are some pre-Christmas cruises in — naturally — December, for a chance to soak up some sunshine before the busy social season starts.

Prices were all available at time of writing and starting price are, as always, per person based on double occupancy

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/phils-wow-deals-of-the-week/wow-good-deals-before-christmas/feed0AdventurephilreimerFan yelling ‘Doper!’ hurls urine at Chris Froome as Tour leader extends advantagehttp://o.canada.com/sports/fan-yelling-doper-hurls-urine-at-chris-froome-as-tour-leader-extends-advantage
http://o.canada.com/sports/fan-yelling-doper-hurls-urine-at-chris-froome-as-tour-leader-extends-advantage#commentsSun, 19 Jul 2015 02:57:27 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684327&preview_id=684327]]>MENDE, France — Being doused in liquids by roadside fans goes with the terrain of being a Tour de France rider. But this spectator was yelling “doper!” at Chris Froome and the liquid couldn’t have been more unwelcome.

“No mistake, it was urine,” the race leader said.

While Stage 14 signalled a double celebration for British cycling, with Froome extending his lead and fellow Briton Stephen Cummings getting a first win for South African team MTN-Qhubeka on Nelson Mandela Day, the unpleasant assault dampened the leader’s mood.

Froome blamed “very irresponsible” reporters for turning public opinion against him and his Sky team. Just as he did in winning the Tour for the first time in 2013, the Kenya-born Briton has faced pointed questions about his dominant performances — and those of his teammates — along with insinuations of doping.

Froome said he spotted the spectator acting bizarrely about a third of the way into the day’s 178-kilometre west-to-east ride from Rodez to Mende. The route through plains and hills on the fringes of the Massif Central region included a detour through the breathtakingly spectacular Tarn gorges.

“I saw this guy just peering around and I thought, ‘That looks a bit strange,’ ” he said. “As I got there he just sort of launched this cup toward me and said (in French) ‘Doper!’

“That’s unacceptable on so many levels.”

His Sky teammate Richie Porte said another person, also seemingly a spectator, thumped him with a “full-on punch” a few days earlier on a climb in the Pyrenees. Porte suggested journalists may be putting riders in danger by “whipping up all the rubbish that they are.”

Froome echoed that thinking.

“I certainly wouldn’t blame the public for this,” he said. “I would blame some of the reporting on the race that has been very irresponsible.

“It is no longer the riders who are bringing the sport into disrepute now, it’s those individuals, and they know who they are.”

He refused to identify specific journalists or reports, but said: “They set that tone to people and obviously people believe what they see in the media.”

Although such assaults remain rare, Froome is not the first rider in Tour history to have been doused by urine, nor is Porte the first to be punched.

Still, the aggression shows how their generation is paying the price for decades of damage done by dopers, none more infamous than Lance Armstrong, who was stripped of seven Tour victories and confessed to systematic cheating after years of lying.

In the lingering atmosphere of distrust, Froome’s repeated assurances that he is clean have fallen on deaf ears.

“Unfortunately, this is the legacy that has been handed to us by the people before us, people who have won the Tour only to disappoint fans a few years later,” Froome said.

“If this is part of the process we have to go through to get the sport to the better place, obviously I’m here, I’m doing it,” he added. “I’m not going to give up the race because a few guys are shouting insults.”

Especially when only the Alps loom as the last major obstacle between the 2013 winner and a second victory in Paris on July 26.

On a fiercely steep final climb to an airfield above Mende, Froome again proved untouchable.

While other podium contenders laboured up the three kilometres with an average 10-per cent gradient, Froome caught Nairo Quintana and, to show who’s the boss, beat the Colombian with a finishing sprint.

“Every little second will help,” said Froome. “I thought I might as well give a little nudge for the line, see if I could take another second or two.”

He took one second from Quintana and more from others who are, in effect, now competing for second and third spot on the Champs-Elysees podium.

Tejay van Garderen, the American leader of the BMC team, suffered most on the climb among the big names. From second overall at the start of the stage, he slipped to third and is now 3 minutes, 32 seconds off Froome’s pace. Quintana vaulted from third to second place, but trails Froome by 3:10, a comfortable cushion for the British rider to carry into the Alps in the last week.

Cummings’ MTN-Qhubeka team wore special helmets in Mandela’s honour and met Saturday morning to concoct a winning strategy for the day meant to encourage South Africans to emulate his humanitarian legacy and recognize the decades he spent fighting apartheid.

“Qhubeka” means “to progress” or “move forward” in the language of the Nguni people of southern Africa and the 34-year-old British rider did just that to dash French hopes on the day when France’s President Francois Hollande was visiting the race.

Cummings ambushed two French riders, Romain Bardet and Thibaut Pinot, on the short flat section to the airfield after riding at his own pace up the steep final climb where, he said, “everyone went bananas.”

“Pinot and Bardet were just ahead and I used them as the carrot dangling in front of me for motivation,” he said.

After reaching the summit together, the French pair made the mistake of dawdling, watching each other and neglecting the danger from Cummings — who used his speed on the flat to catch them from behind and claim the stage win.

“He was very crafty,” Bardet said. “Very disappointed.”

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/fan-yelling-doper-hurls-urine-at-chris-froome-as-tour-leader-extends-advantage/feed0France-Cycling-Tour-de-France.jpgtheassociatedpresscanadaTravel + Leisure Awards Category Lighthttp://o.canada.com/news/travel-leisure-awards-category-light
http://o.canada.com/news/travel-leisure-awards-category-light#commentsSat, 18 Jul 2015 03:00:11 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=684129]]>There is no red carpet, no lights, no breathless hosts to shout out names of the stars as they go by. Cruise awards are announced in publications or online.

When the companies that create awards — Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Cruise Critic and a few others —announce the winners, it may not sound like a big deal. But to the people who run the cruise lines, it is. To regular passengers on winning cruise lines, it is…because it validates their choices.

This week it was Travel + Leisure, one of the heavyweights with a circulation of nearly a million subscribers, that rolled out its red carpet after readers were polled for their favourite cruise lines. Participants were asked to vote under several headings with the main ones being: stateroom, food, service, itineraries and value.

My problem, as always, is with the ship categories: Mega-Ships, Large, Small.

I think at least two more categories are required. Luxury would be one and the other should be something between Mega and Large. I’m not sure what…Intermediate maybe. Mega should be only for ships with more than 3,600 passengers and currently it’s for anything over 2,200. These days, that’s hardly a “mega-ship.”

Let me give you an example of why it’s wrong. Crystal ships are in the Large category along with Regent Seven Seas. Those are luxury lines, but in this poll they are lumped in with Holland America and Celebrity, both mainstream brands but not luxury.

Two more categories would make the ratings more equitable. Enough of my ranting…here are the 2015 winners:

On the airline side, only one that regularly flies internationally — such as across the Atlantic, where Canadians meet up with Mediterranean and river ships — made the top 10, Virgin Atlantic. The others were mainly Asian carriers plus Air New Zealand and Qantus.

In the International Airport category, there were no winners from North America. You would think Vancouver International (YVR), ranked by SkyTrax as the best airport in North America for five years running, might have found some international love.

Phil’s Pick of the Week

I have a combination for you, one that includes Canada, New England and Bermuda. The combo is offered by Holland America. It’s on the Veendam, a ship small enough — 1,350 passengers — that it can dock in the centre of Hamilton, Bermuda.

See your cruise travel agent or go to hollandamerica.com. Pricing was accurate at time of writing.

]]>http://o.canada.com/news/travel-leisure-awards-category-light/feed0Disney WonderphilreimerThe Odyssey from Seabourn, first pick in the Small-Ship categoryViking Odin, cruising the Rhine for the most popular river cruise lineWaimea Canyon, one of the reasons Kauai is a favourite island of travellersFrench F1 driver Jules Bianchi dies from head injuries sustained at 2014 Japanese GPhttp://o.canada.com/sports/french-f1-driver-jules-bianchi-dies-from-head-injuries-sustained-at-2014-japanese-gp
http://o.canada.com/sports/french-f1-driver-jules-bianchi-dies-from-head-injuries-sustained-at-2014-japanese-gp#commentsSat, 18 Jul 2015 02:30:38 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684300&preview_id=684300]]>NICE, France — The family of Jules Bianchi says the French Formula One driver has died from head injuries sustained in a crash at last year’s Japanese Grand Prix.

The news was posted on Bianchi’s official Twitter feed early Saturday morning French time and later confirmed by the Manor F1 team.

Bianchi, 25, had been in a coma since the Oct. 5 accident, in which he collided at high speed with a mobile crane which was being used to pick up another crashed car.

The family statement said “Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end. The pain we feel is immense and indescribable.”

Bianchi competed in 34 races over the 2013 and 2014 seasons, scoring the first ever championship points for Manor — then known as Marussia — by finishing fifth at last year’s Monaco Grand Prix.

The Manor team tweeted: “We are devastated to lose Jules after such a hard-fought battle. It was a privilege to have him race for our team.”

Bianchi died at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in his hometown of Nice, where he had been since his emergency treatment in Japan in the days after the accident.

“We wish to thank the medical staff at Nice’s CHU who looked after him with love and dedication,” the family statement said. “We also thank the staff of the General Medical Center in the Mie Prefecture (Japan) who looked after Jules immediately after the accident, as well as all the other doctors who have been involved with his care over the past months.

“Furthermore, we thank Jules’ colleagues, friends, fans and everyone who has demonstrated their affection for him over these past months, which gave us great strength and helped us deal with such difficult times.”

The family statement was issued by his parents Philippe and Christine, his brother Tom and sister Melanie.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/french-f1-driver-jules-bianchi-dies-from-head-injuries-sustained-at-2014-japanese-gp/feed0F1 Grand Prix of JapantheassociatedpresscanadaCanadian swimmer Emily Overholt wins Pan Am gold in 400-metre freestylehttp://o.canada.com/sports/canadian-swimmer-emily-overholt-wins-pan-am-gold-in-400-metre-freestyle
http://o.canada.com/sports/canadian-swimmer-emily-overholt-wins-pan-am-gold-in-400-metre-freestyle#commentsSat, 18 Jul 2015 00:28:21 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684258&preview_id=684258]]>TORONTO — Canadian Emily Overholt captured the gold medal in the women’s 400-metre freestyle at the Pan Am Games on Friday, one night after a disqualification took first place away from her in a different event.

Overholt, of West Vancouver, B.C., finished the freestyle race in a Pan Am record time of four minutes, 8.42 seconds.

Venezuela’s Andreina Pinto earned silver in 4:08.67, while American Gillian Ryan placed third in 4:09.46.

Overholt, the youngest member of the Canadian swim team at 17, out-touched Caitlin Leverenz of the United States at the wall to finish first in the 400-metre individual medley on Thursday, but she was disqualified for a “non-simultaneous” wall touch during the breaststroke leg of the race.

The Canadians continued their impressive showing at the Cisco Milton Pan Am Velodrome, adding to the medal haul with a gold in the women’s pursuit.

The team of Calgary’s Allison Beveridge, Vancouver’s Laura Brown, Jasmin Glaesser, of Coquitlam, B.C., and Kirsti Lay, of Medicine Hat, Alta., finished the race in a Pan Am record time of four minutes 19.664 seconds in the final to edge the United States.

The U.S. earned the silver in 4:26.426, while Mexico beat out Colombia to capture the bronze medal.

Canada stood in second place in the overall medal total with 100, one back of the U.S., with multiple events still scheduled for Friday evening.

So far, Canadians has earned 39 gold, 37 silver and 24 bronze.

The Canadian women’s squash team didn’t fare as well as their track cycling counterparts, settling for silver with a loss to the Americans.

The U.S. won the first two matches in the best-of-three final to take the gold.

Olivia Blatchford opened with an 11-4, 12-10, 11-8 victory over Hollie Naughton of Mississauga, Ont., and Amanda Sobhy secured the team victory with an 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 win over Samantha Cornett of Deep River, Ont.

Earlier in the day, Canadian Michel Dion won bronze in the men’s 50-metre rifle prone. Brazil’s Cassio Rippel took gold, while American Michael McPhail placed second.

Ryan descended more than 9,000 feet Friday in a tandem skydive with members of the United States Army Golden Knights parachute team at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

“That was awesome,” Ryan said moments after landing. “I’m ready to go again.”

Known for his “ground and pound” football, Ryan readily accepted an invitation to take to the air with the Golden Knights. The group frequently performs at Bills’ games at the annual Thunder of Niagara Airshow.

“I like living,” Ryan said. “I just like doing stuff like this, a little thrill seeking. It beats going to a state park, I think.”

After free falling for about a minute at a speed approaching 300 mph, according to U.S. Army officials, Ryan landed safely on a grass field, though he did slip upon hitting the ground.

At a rare loss for words, Ryan had difficulty describing the experience.

“You guys need to do it,” he said. “Unless you do it, I don’t think people can do it justice on how to describe it.”

Ryan, however, discouraged his Bills players from following his lead.

“I don’t have to play,” he said. “So, yeah, not recommended for the players. But for a coach, go for it.”

After landing, Ryan greeted one of his former players, New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker, who rode along on an F-16 fighter jet with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

Ryan was hired by the Bills in January after his dismissal following six seasons with the Jets.

Ryan declined to comment on offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, who has been put on paid administrative leave after he was arrested last weekend on a misdemeanour battery charge in Florida.

“I’m not going to add anything to what we’ve already released as a team,” Ryan said. “A lot of the process is still going on.”

The former quarterback renowned for his durability and gunslinger mentality will be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame and have his No. 4 jersey retired on Saturday. It’s a day some Packers fans thought they might never see.

The sides have mended their relationship after a messy split that stemmed from the “will he or won’t he retire” drama that led to a once-unthinkable exit from Green Bay in 2008.

But Saturday begins a green-and-gold celebration of a storied, 16-year tenure with the Packers that helped revive of one of the NFL’s marquee teams.

“I think it’s huge,” Mike McCarthy, Favre’s last coach with the Packers, said during minicamp. “There (are) some monumental moments for this organization and obviously he has quite a few of them. He deserves to be honoured the right way.”

With the kind of fanfare befitting for a player who had a flair for the dramatic, both on and off the field.

The induction ceremony for old No. 4 will take place in the Lambeau Field atrium. The roughly 67,000 seats for fans to watch on video boards inside the stadium bowl have long been sold out.

Tickets, of course, cost $4. Net proceeds were to go to the Favre 4 Hope charity.

Now 45, Favre will also participate in a charity flag football game on Sunday at the University of Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium. The event will pit former Packers against noted retired NFL players including former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

A scheduling conflict at Lambeau and the game’s proximity to training camp, which starts in less than two weeks, prevented the game from being held in Green Bay.

Returning to Lambeau for the event might have made the weekend perfect for Favre. Still, this is a moment that he has been looking forward to for some time.

“To say a whirlwind would be probably an understatement. It’s going to be a lot of fun. Much anticipated obviously. Not only from our end, but I think from everyone else,” Favre said earlier this year.

The rumblings in Titletown began a decade ago after the Packers took Aaron Rodgers in the first round of the 2005 draft. Favre wasn’t thrilled that the team had found his heir apparent and fans initially treated Rodgers with skepticism.

Rodgers took over in 2008 after Favre was traded to the Jets. Favre retired briefly, then came back with the Minnesota Vikings for a two-year stint starting in 2009 that finally finished his career.

Any apprehension that Favre might have felt about how fans might react disappeared after the response for tickets.

“If there were any questions prior to that about how the fans felt about my return, I think those questions have been answered,” Favre said.

Packers president Mark Murphy said he also initially wasn’t sure what kind of turnout to expect on Saturday night.

“But the fact that it sold out sold quickly tells me the fans are ready,” Murphy said. “It’s time.”

Another milestone will come on Thanksgiving night, when Favre’s number will go up on the stadium’s interior facade during the game against the Chicago Bears.

Favre threw for nearly 72,000 yards and completed 62 per cent of his passes in a 20-year career overall that began after being drafted by Atlanta in the second round in 1991.

In February 1992, under then-new general manager Ron Wolf, Green Bay acquired Favre from the Falcons for a first-round pick. The Packers won the Super Bowl four seasons later, beating New England 35-21. They returned to the Super Bowl the following season, losing to Denver 31-24.

Renowned for his durability, Favre holds a slew of NFL marks including a QB-record 297 straight regular-season games. He won three MVP awards.

His 16 seasons in Green Bay matched Bart Starr (1956-71) for the longest tenure in team history.

“I don’t know if there has been a player in recent memory that has been as connected as Favre to the Packers … How many people have 16 years with one team,” Murphy said. “For him to have the kind of career he did with us is pretty exceptional.”

On a wild day of weather Friday at the British Open that delayed the start of the second round by more than three hours, Danny Willett of England set the early target with a 3-under 69 that allowed him to walk off the Old Course with his name atop the leaderboard.

Just not for long.

Johnson, who teed off at 5:48 p.m. local time, ran off three birdies in four holes on the front nine and went out to 33 to reclaim the lead at 10-under.

Willett posted his two rounds at 9-under 135.

Just like he did when he opened with a 65, Johnson looked like the man to beat. Jordan Spieth could see it clearly because he was playing next to him. The Masters and U.S. Open champion overcame a pair of three-putt bogeys with three birdies on the front nine, though he still was in danger of falling further behind in his quest for the third leg of the Grand Slam.

Adam Scott made three birdies on the far end of the Old Course and had a 67 to join a large group at 7-under 137 that included former Masters champion Zach Johnson (71), Marc Warren of Scotland (69) and Robert Streb (71).

Tiger Woods was on his way to making the wrong kind of history. He has never missed the cut in the U.S. Open and British Open in the same year. Woods did not make a birdie on the easier front nine for the second straight day and was six shots over the projected cut line.

Friday also was a time for farewells.

First it was Nick Faldo, who captured one of his three Open titles at St. Andrews in 1990. Faldo spends most of his time in the broadcast booth for CBS Sports, but he came down from the tower to play St. Andrews one last time.

He wasn’t sure he could play because of a deep cut on the middle finger of his left hand and was in the hospital in the early morning hours getting it fixed. His kids wanted him to play and Faldo didn’t want to miss that iconic walk across the Swilcan Bridge. He switched into a sweater he wore for his first Open win in 1987, thrust both hands in the air atop the bridge and finished with a par for a 71.

“I’ll remember that,” Faldo said.

Because of the delay, it wasn’t clear if five-time Open champion Tom Watson would finish. He had no chance of making the cut.

Willett was the No. 1 amateur who played in the 2007 Walker Cup with Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler. After struggling with a back injury, he showed a return to form by winning in South Africa late last year, then reaching the semifinals of the Match Play Championship until losing to Gary Woodland.

But this is another level. He has not finished higher than 15th in his nine previous majors. Small wonder that when he finished his round, one of his many text messages came from his mother. She congratulated him on making the cut.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/through-rain-and-farewells-dustin-johnson-seeks-to-establish-control-in-british-open/feed0Britain-Open-Golf.jpgtheassociatedpresscanadaKaka, Sebastian Giovinco top 2015 Major League Soccer salary listhttp://o.canada.com/sports/kaka-sebastian-giovinco-top-2015-major-league-soccer-salary-list
http://o.canada.com/sports/kaka-sebastian-giovinco-top-2015-major-league-soccer-salary-list#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 19:46:03 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684201&preview_id=684201]]>Toronto FC and the Los Angeles Galaxy are the big spenders in Major League Soccer this season, according to figures released Friday by the MLS Players Union.

In a league whose salary cap of $3.49 million US comes with a lot of loopholes, Toronto is spending $18,365,555 on designated players Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore.

The Galaxy has Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, Giovani dos Santos and Omar Gonzalez on a combined $16,382,512, although the exact number will be lower given Gerrard and dos Santos arrived in mid-season.

Orlando City’s Brazilian star Kaka tops the MLS salary list at $7.167 million US, just ahead of Giovinco at $7.115 million, Bradley at $6.5 million, Gerrard at $6.33 million and Frank Lampard of New York City FC at $6 million.

The rest of the top 10 are David Villa of New York City FC at $5.6 million, Altidore at $4.75 million, Clint Dempsey of the Seattle Sounders at $4.6 million, Keane at $4.5 million and dos Santos at $4.1 million.

Kaka, then on loan to Sao Paulo, topped the 2014 MLS list even though Orlando City had yet to play. His salary last September was also listed at $7.167 million.

Expansion New York City FC has also dug deep to acquire Villa, Lampard and newly acquired Italian veteran Andrea Pirlo ($2.315 million).

Pedro Morales is the highest-paid Vancouver Whitecap at $1.41 million, while the top Montreal Impact players are Laurent Ciman ($401,666) and Ignacio Piatti ($400,000).

While MLS does have a salary cap, each team is allowed three designated players whose salary cap hit is restricted to $436,250 if the player is over the age of 23. Teams can also use allocation money to pay down any player’s salary charge.

Twenty players in the league are listed as having salaries in excess of $1 million.

At the other end of Toronto’s pay scale, five players make $60,000 a year while defender Clement Simonin is at $50,000. The French rookie’s annual salary is less than one-quarter of what Giovinco makes a game ($209,281).

Of course, Giovinco is having an MVP year.

With a salary of $536,666, Kei Kamara of the Columbus Crew is one of the league’s bargains. He tops the scoring chart with 13 goals this season.

Canadian international Will Johnson makes $334,333 with the Portland Timbers. Fellow Canadian Cyle Larin, a forward taken first overall in the 2015 SuperDraft by Orlando, is at $167,000.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/kaka-sebastian-giovinco-top-2015-major-league-soccer-salary-list/feed0Toronto FC v New York City FCthecanadianpressSo close yet so far for unlucky Sagan at Tour, second-best again as leader Froome stays coolhttp://o.canada.com/sports/so-close-yet-so-far-for-unlucky-sagan-at-tour-second-best-again-as-leader-froome-stays-cool
http://o.canada.com/sports/so-close-yet-so-far-for-unlucky-sagan-at-tour-second-best-again-as-leader-froome-stays-cool#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 19:39:11 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684204&preview_id=684204]]>RODEZ, France — Peter Sagan might be the unluckiest rider at the Tour de France. “So close yet so far” could be his nickname.

With a few more pumps on his pedals, a few more ounces of speed and power, the spunky Slovakian could have won four stages by now.

Instead, he has four second places.

He blamed only himself for the latest addition Friday to his unwanted collection. In a man-to-man duel on an uphill final sprint against Greg van Avermaet, Sagan mistimed his finish, easing up just a fraction too early against the Belgian rider who pushed to the very end.

“My stupid mistake,” said the Tinkoff-Saxo rider.

Chris Froome was faultless. Again. Another stage down, another step closer to sipping champagne on the Champs-Elysees for the race leader.

“Just happy to tick that day off. One day closer to Paris now,” he said.

For most of the flat-to-hilly Stage 13 from Muret deep in southern France, six low-placed riders rode in a breakaway at the front of the race. None were a threat for the podium in Paris. The closest to Froome, Cyril Gautier, was more than an hour behind him in the overall standings. So Froome and the main pack happily let the escape get away, hoping instead for a breather on the 198-kilometre trek after three gruelling days of climbing in the Pyrenees and under unrelenting sun that melted tarmac.

Riding past plantations of yellow sunflowers and golden fields of harvested wheat, the riders worked on staying hydrated as temperatures soared into the mid-30s Celsius. A loss of concentration proved very painful for Jean-Christophe Peraud. Last year’s runner-up suffered a nasty spill at speed on the flat, tearing strips of skin off his left leg and arms as he hit the deck hard and rolled several times. The French leader of the AG2R La Mondiale team gingerly picked himself up and remounted, gritting his teeth. A Tour doctor then patched him up on the move, wrapping his wounds in bandages as Peraud gripped the speeding medical car.

“When it’s hot like that, you need a new bottle of water every 10-15 minutes,” said Froome. “It was tough.”

And it got tougher.

As the finish in Rodez drew close, the peloton woke from its slumber. Like mice trying to escape a hunting cat, the escapees rode furiously, eyeing the stage win in the town of 26,000 people. Their speciality dishes include aligot, a mix of melted cheese and mashed potato, and tripe.

The cat had other plans.

Riders took turns at the front of the peloton to pile on speed. The gap melted like ice cream. With seven kilometres to ride, it had shrunk from minutes to 40 seconds. It was clear this would be agonizingly close.

The pack caught its prey inside the last kilometre, swallowing up the last three escapees. That was when van Avermaet and Sagan pounced, surging ahead, two powerful riders competing for one prize.

The 30-year-old Belgian made the top 10 on five previous stages. Not bad, but no cigar. As well as second places on Stages 2, 5 and 6, 25-year-old Sagan also placed third twice. Both were ravenous to win.

Van Avermaet, it turned out, just a fraction more so.

Sensing a rider — he didn’t know it was Sagan — on his wheel, he emptied his tank. Sagan, sprinting behind, off his saddle, sat back down just a tad too early.

“Incredible,” said van Avermaet, who rides for the BMC team.

“I was dead, really dead,” he said. “I thought I’d caught second. I pushed for the line and was so happy he didn’t overtake me.”

Sagan glowered at a reporter who asked how it felt to be second again. He is the most consistent sprinter of this Tour, wearing the green jersey awarded for that quality. But he last won a stage in 2013. He won three the year before that.

“I’m very angry and disappointed,” Sagan said. “I sat down and all the pain comes. Bad.”

The cat-mouse chase killed Froome’s hopes for an uneventful day. The British leader of the Sky team and his closest podium challengers threw themselves into the final sprint because they didn’t want to lose time, even just a few seconds, to each other. Mission accomplished. Froome’s lead remains unchanged, with Tejay van Garderen of BMC still 2 minutes, 52 seconds back and Nairo Quintana third, still 3:09 back.

“What started off as quite an easy steady stage turned crazy by the end,” Froome said. “The guys started panicking that they weren’t going to catch the breakaway.”

He is bracing for more hostilities on the short but very sharp uphill finish of Saturday’s Stage 14 at Mende.

The Canadians are down 2-0 to Belgium in the best-of-five series after losing Friday’s opening singles matches.

“The guys gave it all they had today,” said Canada’s captain Martin Laurendeau. “It’s a tough team, it’s a tough surface and it’s tough conditions. But we didn’t come here just to put forth a good effort and go home. We really came here to win.”

“I did my best today but it wasn’t good enough,” said Peliwo. “I think I played a good match against a top-15 player and it was a really good experience for me. Against a guy like that you have to play pretty aggressive and I tried to do that but he showed why he’s ranked where he is.

“There are no regrets on my part.”

Earlier in the day, Darcis won six straight games in the second set to take a hold on Dancevic. Darcis forced 54 errors from his opponent and got a critical break in the third set. Darcis constantly put Dancevic under pressure on serve and almost inevitably broke in the 11th game of the third set and seventh game of the fourth.

“A couple points really made the difference today,” said Dancevic. “It was really close and I could have gotten myself back in the match. I had a couple break chances in the third and fourth sets, but he played really well on the key points. He just played better in the big moments than I did.”

Dancevic is Canada’s highest ranked player at No. 272 after seventh-ranked Raonic and No. 27 Pospisil withdrew with injuries.

No. 7 Canada needs to win all three remaining matches against Belgium to reach the World Group semifinals. The winner will face either Serbia or Argentina.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/canada-loses-pair-of-singles-matches-against-belgium-in-davis-cup-quarter-final/feed0Filip PeliwothecanadianpressPan Am Games organizers confirm four athletes have tested positivehttp://o.canada.com/sports/pan-am-games-organizers-confirm-four-athletes-have-tested-positive
http://o.canada.com/sports/pan-am-games-organizers-confirm-four-athletes-have-tested-positive#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 19:05:59 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684194&preview_id=684194]]>TORONTO — Four athletes have been disqualified from the Pan American Games after testing positive for banned substances, the international competition’s governing body said Friday.

The Pan American Sports Association said three of the athletes tested positive for anabolic steroids.

It said Mexican weightlifter Cinthya Vanessa Dominguez Lara tested postitive for oxandrolone, which is typically prescribed to help people regain weight they lost due to illness or injury.

Nelson Gomez, a baseball player from Puerto Rico, tested positive for boldenone, while another baseball player, Javier Jesus Ortiz Angulo of Colombia, tested positive for stanozolol, the organization said.

Both substances are also given to race horses. Major League Baseball recently launched an investigation into stanozolol use after four players tested positive for the steroid over 16 weeks. It’s also the drug that led to star Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson being stripped of his 100-metre gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

The Pan Am Sports Association said the fourth athlete — Mario Mercedes Castillo, a baseball player for the Dominican Republic — tested positive for dimethylbutylamine, a banned stimulant.

The Peruvian delegation also said Friday that swimmer Mauricio Fiol, the silver medallist in the 200-metre butterfly, has also tested positive for steroids and has been suspended from the team.

In a statement, the Peru team said, “We are profoundly sorry for the incident, which affects not only the athlete but all Peruvians.”

Canada could benefit if Fiol is stripped of his medal as Zack Chertat’s bronze would be upgraded to silver, while teammate Alec Page would move up to third place.

The Pan Am Sports Association said it will not confirm or comment on any potential doping cases for 48 hours after receiving test results in order to give the affected athletes a chance to address the allegations.

Any further sanctions against the four removed from the Games will be determined by their sports’ governing bodies based on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s rules.

Officials with the organization said every major sporting event has a number of anti-doping violations and the Pan Am cases so far fall within the normal range.

Still, Eduardo De Rose, chairman of the organization’s medical commission, said he was surprised there were so many cases early on in the Games, which opened a week ago.

New rules issued in January by WADA have led to much more rigorous testing, De Rose said.

“The controls are much harder than the controls we had in Guadalajara,” which hosted the last Games in 2011, he said.

Earlier this week, WADA urged organizers of the Games and other large multi-sport events to follow the example of the International Olympic Committee and store samples for possible testing in the future.

Samples from Olympic Games are stored for up to 10 years, meaning that an athlete who cheated may be caught a decade later by new testing technology.

The head of WADA said storing samples from events like the Pan Am Games would be a further deterrent to cheaters and remind them that they are being targeted.

— With files from The Associated Press

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/pan-am-games-organizers-confirm-four-athletes-have-tested-positive/feed0Pan-Am-Doping-20150717.jpgthecanadianpressMike Weir taking leave of absence for personal reasons, will miss Canadian Openhttp://o.canada.com/sports/mike-weir-taking-leave-of-absence-for-personal-reasons-will-miss-canadian-open
http://o.canada.com/sports/mike-weir-taking-leave-of-absence-for-personal-reasons-will-miss-canadian-open#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 19:00:04 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684191&preview_id=684191]]>Mike Weir says he is taking “an indefinite leave of absence” from pro golf and won’t be playing in his 25th RBC Canadian Open next week.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the former Masters champion said that he wants to focus on his personal life and his children.

He says there is no timeline for his return but that he plans to come back “when the time is right.”

Weir and his wife Bricia recently divorced. They have two teenage daughters.

“Mike has recently endured some difficult times in his personal life,” agent Danny Fritz wrote in an email to The Canadian Press. “With everything that has been going on away from the golf course, Mike’s golf game has been impacted as a result.”

The 45-year-old Weir says withdrawing from the Canadian Open was especially difficult because he loves playing in front of home fans.

“That’s unfortunate,” Golf Canada chief championship officer Bill Paul said on a phone interview. “I understand. We’ll wish him well and be watching him and he’ll be back for his 25th sometime.”

Weir withdrew from his last PGA Tour event, the John Deere Classic, earlier this month after shooting a first-round 73.

The 2003 Masters winner from Bright’s Grove, Ont., was a runner-up at the Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in 2004.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/mike-weir-taking-leave-of-absence-for-personal-reasons-will-miss-canadian-open/feed0Mike WeirthecanadianpressSharknado quiz: How well do you know the fin-tastic films? (with video)http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/sharknado-quiz-how-well-do-you-know-the-fin-tastic-films-with-video
http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/sharknado-quiz-how-well-do-you-know-the-fin-tastic-films-with-video#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 16:59:29 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=683951]]>Citizen Kane, The Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind, Sharknado. All great cinematic achievements deserve study, and the Sharknado films are no different.

Of course, their charm lie mainly in absurd premises, hammy acting and retina-searing special effects, but it’s charm nonetheless.

The Sharknado franchise expands this Wednesday (July 22) when Space debuts the third film — titled Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! — after rebroadcasts of the first two instalments. In preparation, here’s a quiz testing your knowledge of the original Sharknado and Sharknado: The Next One.

1. In the first Sharknado, Nova (Cassie Scerbo) explains her dislike of sharks. What does she say?
a) “They took my grandfather. So I really hate sharks.”
b) “When I was a kid, I was really scared of Shark Week.”
c) “You can never tell what they’re thinking.”
d) “Sharks can’t take selfies.”

2. After April (Tara Reid) loses her hand in Sharknado 2, what does she replace it with?
a) a prosthetic hand
b) an ice pick
c) a circular saw
d) a blow torch

3. Daymond John, of the TV series Shark Tank, is killed by what New York City icon in Sharknado 2?
a) the Statue of Liberty’s head
b) the Late Show With David Letterman sign
c) the New Year’s Eve ball from Times Square
d) Regis Philbin

Biz Markie as himself in Sharknado 2: The Second One [Syfy]

4. What does Fin (Ian Ziering) use to get himself out of the shark that swallowed him at the end of the first Sharknado?
a) a laser
b) a chainsaw
c) an axe
d) Axe body spray

5. In Sharknado 2, what do Al Roker and Matt Lauer do to the shark that invades the Today show set?
a) they talk it to death
b) they stab it with an umbrella
c) they roll it like a bowling ball out of a window
d) they play doubles tennis with it, opposite Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford

6. In the first film, how do the shark-fighters finally stop the sharknadoes?
a) they throw bombs into them from a helicopter
b) they turn on hundreds of vacuum cleaners all at once
c) they repeat the phrase “There’s no place like home.”
d) they enlist the help of Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson

Ian Ziering, second left, and Cassie Scerbo battle a shark in the Syfy original film Sharknado. [ Syfy]

7. Which is NOT a fate suffered by the sharks in Sharknado 2?
a) being stomped on with Kelly Ripa’s high heel
b) being stabbed and thrown into a pizza oven
c) being chopped up for sushi
d) being electrocuted in a retirement home’s pool

8. How many tweets were sent out about Sharknado during its original broadcast on July 11, 2013?
a) about 52,000
b) about 114,000
c) about 223,000
d) about 318,000

9. What’s the title of the book April wrote in Sharknado 2?
a) A Fin Romance
b) To Tell the Tooth
c) The Shark Night Rises
d) How to Survive a Sharknado and Other Unnatural Disasters

10. Which is NOT true about the celebrity cameos in Sharknado 2?
a) Robert Hays plays a pilot, like he did in Airplane!
b) Judd Hirsch plays a cab driver, like he did in Taxi
c) Burt Reynolds plays a football player, like he did in The Longest Yard
d) Billy Ray Cyrus plays a doctor, like he did in Doc

]]>http://o.canada.com/entertainment/television/sharknado-quiz-how-well-do-you-know-the-fin-tastic-films-with-video/feed0Sharknado 2: The Second One - 2014mhank2012Sharknado 2: The Second OneIan Ziering, second left, and Cassie Scerbo battle a shark in the Syfy original film Sharknado.Sharknado 2: The Second One South Korea’s Ha Na Jang birdies final hole for 5-under 66 and one-shot lead in Marathon Classichttp://o.canada.com/sports/south-koreas-ha-na-jang-birdies-final-hole-for-5-under-66-and-one-shot-lead-in-marathon-classic
http://o.canada.com/sports/south-koreas-ha-na-jang-birdies-final-hole-for-5-under-66-and-one-shot-lead-in-marathon-classic#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 04:37:17 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684164&preview_id=684164]]>SYLVANIA, Ohio — South Korea’s Ha Na Jang birdied the par-5 18th for a 5-under 66 and a one-stroke lead Thursday after the first round of the LPGA Tour’s Marathon Classic.

She chipped to six feet to set up the final birdie after hitting a 3-wood approach to the front edge.

“Just really good shot,” Jang said about the chip with a 52-degree wedge.

“I feel happy today because in the morning … I was very tired in my bed, so no practice today. I don’t think about the score, so really good play today.”

Winless in 23 career tour events, Jang birdied four of the first five holes on the back nine at Highland Meadows, dropped a stroke on the par-4 15th and rallied with the closing birdie.

“I like the course,” Jang said. “Very narrow fairways and small greens. Very close to Korean golf course, so I think it’s very easy for my feel. … Really good golf course.”

Kemp bogeyed her final hole, the par-4 ninth. The Australian has missed the cuts in seven of the 12 tournaments this season.

“My caddy and I were actually talking before I teed off that I had not had a 4 or 5 under in a while,” Kemp said. “That was the plan today, so it was nice to pull it off. It’s confidence. I’ve had an inconsistent year, some good and some bad. Hopefully, for the rest of the three days I can keep it up.”

Kemp’s approach on No. 9 landed in the rough to the left of the green. She hit to the fringe, but came back with a chip that hit the flagstick and she was able to make her putt for bogey.

“It was a funny lie,” Kemp said. “I had a bad lie for the first chip, where I shouldn’t have been in the first place.”

Hill had three straight birdies on Nos. 6-8 to reach 4-under and parred the final 10 holes.

“I feel really good,” Hill said. “All season I feel like I’ve been very consistent and building off good stuff. So, came to this course on Sunday and felt like it fit my eye really well.”

Top-ranked Inbee Park, a three-time winner this season, birdied her final hole for a 70.

“I hit a lot of greens, but not really close,” Park said. “Irons just weren’t as pure as I thought it would be. Missed couple putts here and there. Only two birdies and one bogey. Not a bad start.”

Defending champion Lydia Ko, ranked No. 2 in the world, opened with a 71.

Third-ranked Stacy Lewis also had a 71.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/south-koreas-ha-na-jang-birdies-final-hole-for-5-under-66-and-one-shot-lead-in-marathon-classic/feed0Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning and O-I - Round OnetheassociatedpresscanadaCanadian swim team’s gold-medal streak snapped at Pan Am poolhttp://o.canada.com/sports/canadian-swim-teams-gold-medal-streak-snapped-at-pan-am-pool
http://o.canada.com/sports/canadian-swim-teams-gold-medal-streak-snapped-at-pan-am-pool#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 04:29:31 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684154&preview_id=684154]]>TORONTO — A disqualification interrupted Canada’s run of gold at the Pan American Games pool Wednesday, although the host swim team stayed out front in total medals won.

Emily Overholt out-touched Caitlin Leverenz of the U.S. at the wall to finish first in the 400-metre individual medley to kick off the third night of finals, but the Canadian was disqualified for a “non-simultaneous” wall touch during the breaststroke leg of the race.

Officials ruled both her hands did not contact the wall at the same time.

Swimming Canada protested to the meet referee and then the jury of appeal, but Overholt’s disqualification was upheld.

The youngest swimmer on the Canadian team at 17, Overholt’s time of four minutes 35.33 seconds would have been the fourth-fastest in the world this year, as well as a national and Pan Am record.

“It’s unfortunate, but I still did the swim, so I still know that I have it in me,” the West Vancouver, B.C., swimmer said. “It’s something to learn from.”

Canada picked up three silver and three bronze Wednesday for a total of 19 with two days of racing remaining. The United States improved to 16 and Brazil 14 and lead the gold-medal race with six apiece to Canada’s five.

The night began on the odd note of a belated 800-metre men’s freestyle relay medal presentation, which had been postponed from the previous evening because the U.S. appealed a disqualification.

The Americans were successful in their appeal, however, and the reinstatement of their silver bumped Canada to bronze.

Overholt’s swim ignited the pro-Canadian crowd, but their celebration was short-lived and the atmosphere in the building remained relatively flat compared to a raucous first two days.

Thiago Pereira, Brazil’s most decorated Pan Am swimmer, was stripped of a first-place finish in the men’s I.M. for a similar violation to Overholt’s.

Canada’s Sydney Pickrem, whose hometown is now Oldsmar, Fla., upgraded from bronze to silver in the women’s I.M. because of her teammate’s disqualification.

Luke Reilly of Richmond, B.C., also moved up a step on the podium to silver after Brazil’s unsuccessful appeal for Pereira.

Noemie Thomas of Richmond, B.C., and Katerine Savard of Pont-Rouge, Que., took silver and bronze respectively in the women’s 100-metre butterfly. Santo Condorelli of Kenora, Ont., earned bronze in the men’s 100-butterfly.

Overholt swam the lead leg of the women’s 800-metre freestyle relay without knowing the result of the appeal on her behalf. She was informed of the decision after the relay. Overholt gave Canada the lead, but her team was overtaken by the U.S. and Brazil.

“That shows the character of the young lady, that she had that happen, dust yourself down and get back up for the relay, lead the relay off in the manner that she did,” he said.

Meanwhile, a belated swim medal could be on its way to Canada. Atkinson said he was aware of reports that a Peruvian swimmer tested positive for the steroid Stanozolol.

The Toronto Star said Mauricio Fiol told a news conference he did not take the steroid and was getting advice from the Peruvian Olympic Committee.

The Peruvian took the silver medal in the men’s 200-metre butterfly, so Canadian Zack Chertat’s bronze would be upgraded and teammate Alec Page would move from fourth to bronze if Fiol is stripped of his medal.

Page called his fourth-place finish “bittersweet,” but said he wasn’t going to get ahead of himself.

“I would be happy, but I’m going to hold back for now, just because nothing is official yet,” Page said at the pool Thursday night.

Canadian Andrew d’Souza took silver in the men’s singles final after losing to Guatemala’s Kevin Cordon 21-13, 21-14.

“He didn’t let me really play at the net when I wanted to,” d’Souza said. “He didn’t let me take the attack. He’s very good at keeping his attack and I just had a lot of trouble getting out of it when I played him.”

Canada’s medal count rose to 97 with Thursday’s results. The Canadians lead the medal total at the Games once again after falling behind the United States.

Canada has earned 38 gold, 36 silver and 23 bronze thus far.

The U.S. had 96 total medals as of Thursday night, including 34 gold.

The Canadians men’s and women’s team sprint teams took double gold at the first day of track cycling at the Cisco Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome.

Hugo Barrette of Cap-aux-Meules, Que., Victoria’s Evan Carey and Joseph Veloce of St. Catharines. Ont., edged Venezuela in 44.241 seconds in the men’s race, while Kate O’Brien and Monique Sullivan topped Cuba in 33.959 seconds in the women’s team sprint.

“I couldn’t believe the support on every home backstretch you went on,” O’Brien said. “You just heard masses of screaming and so to have family and friends and Canadians in general out and being able to support us at home was special.”

Gaby Dabrowski and Carol Zhao added another gold medal to Canada’s tally, taking first place in women’s doubles tennis. They beat Mexico’s Victoria Rodriguez and Marcela Zacarias in three sets.

Canada’s streak of gold medals in the Pan American Games pool was halted Thursday with a disqualification.

Emily Overholt of West Vancouver, B.C., out-touched Caitlin Leverenz of the U.S. to finish first in the women’s 400-metre individual medley, but the youngest member of the Canadian swim team was disqualified for a “non-simultaneous” wall touch during the breaststroke leg of the race.

Swimming Canada appealed the disqualification, but it was upheld by officials.

Leverenz took gold in in 4:35.46, while Canadian Sydney Pickrem was second in 4:38.03

Canada’s women’s basketball team roared to a 101-38 rout of Venezuela in its opening match of the Pan American Games.

Seven Canadians scored in double figures, with Lizanne Murphy leading the way with 15 points. Shona Thorburn had 14, Kim Gaucher and Kia Nurse added 12 each, and Nayo Raincock-Ekwune had 11, while Tamara Tatham and Katherine Plouffe chipped in with 10 apiece.

In men’s baseball, London, Ont., native Brock Kjeldgaard drove in four runs as Canada secured the tournament’s top seed with an 11-4 win over Puerto Rico.

Chris Leroux of Mississauga, Ont., pitched six innings, allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out seven and walking two as Canada remained undefeated through five preliminary games. The Canadians close out round-robin action with a game against the U.S. on Friday. Semifinals begin Saturday with the gold- and bronze-medal games scheduled for Sunday.

In men’s golf, Canadian Austin Connelly was tied for fourth after shooting a 2-under 70 in the first round. Teammate Garrett Rank was 27th at 7-over 79.

“They say you can’t win on the first day, but you can certainly lose it,” Connelly said. “I don’t feel like I lost it.”

Canada’s men’s field hockey team is 2-0 after a 1-0 victory over Chile.

Captain Scott Tupper scored on a second-half drag flick for the game’s lone goal. The win put Canada in the driver’s seat to finish first in Pool B.

The Canadian men’s soccer team played to a 0-0 draw with Panama and the men’s squash team topped Argentina 2-1 in the semifinal. Earlier, Canada’s women’s squash team downed Mexico 3-0 in their semi.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/pan-am-games-michelle-li-defends-badminton-title-adds-to-canadas-medal-count/feed0Michelle LithecanadianpressFlying to your next cruise in…comfort?http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/flying-to-your-next-cruise-incomfort
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/flying-to-your-next-cruise-incomfort#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 03:00:53 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=684066]]>Take a good look at the picture. It’s an airline seat, or at least a prototype of an airline seat. More correctly, this is a row of three Zodiac seats, and that’s why today’s blog is about seating on planes, because when you cruise you most often need a plane to get to the port.

By extension, this connects to some airlines’ philosophy, which I’m sure you’ll agree has to do with limiting service, charging more if you want it, and nickel-and-dimeing you to death.

Cruise lines, on the other hand, want to make your time on their carriers more enjoyable. While it’s not the good old days (with few exceptions), when there are extra charges, cruise lines at least are providing value.

Airlines are not.

Today’s “seat story” indicates that a section of the airline industry — in my opinion — does not understand the meaning of the word “enjoyable”…

A French company, Zodiac Aerospace, has designed an interior for an aircraft — it’s called an “exploratory

project” — that will make our lives more miserable than ever as we make our way to our cruise ships. The company has a patent pending for seat configuration noted in this blog as well as a rendering of what the seats will look like.

Any airline executives looking at this configuration, or even this type of seat, should be stuffed into an overhead storage locker and made to stay there while they fly around the world. Although having flown Ryanair, that might be the kind of airline which would embrace this seating.

In its patent, Zodiac Seats France – a division of Zodiac Aerospace – calls the seating arrangement “economy class cabin hexagon.” On planes where coach cabins have middle seats, the layout would turn the middle seat backwards to – in Zodiac’s words – “increase cabin density while also creating seat units that increase the space available at the shoulder and arm area by creating an overlap in the shoulder areas of adjacent seats.”

Here is what a few other publications had to say…

Wired Magazine called it “the most nightmarish idea for plane seating ever.” The Globe and Mail of Toronto says the seating idea is “horrifying.” Conde Nast Traveler says the seat design “will haunt you forever” while worrying about “unavoidable eye contact…hand-holding with your neighbors” and general all-around awkwardness.

Some of the more far-out publications were even more blunt.

Writers are ripping these seats. Why has no airline executive thrown out a tweet that “these seats won’t be found on my airline?”

CRUISE NEWS YOU CAN USE

Dublin, in need of some cruise terminal improvements, now has the money: 230 million euros. The Dublin Port Company’s plan will allow cruise ships to berth and turn around at the East Link Bridge once the depth of the river is increased from seven to 10 metres. As part of the proposal the Port Company land on Bull Island goes to Dublin City Council, which plans to construct a visitor’s centre there.

All for now.

For a weekly newsletter from Ports and Bows with lots of cruise information and the best deals that we can find, click here to sign up: www.canada.com/newsletter.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/flying-to-your-next-cruise-incomfort/feed0Zodiac seatsphilreimerZodiac seats-2Around the world on Seven Seas Navigatorhttp://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/around-the-world-on-seven-seas-navigator
http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/around-the-world-on-seven-seas-navigator#commentsThu, 16 Jul 2015 03:00:00 +0000http://o.canada.com/?p=684008]]>With a new ship coming next year — Regent Seven Seas Explorer — the luxury cruise line is sending a ship on a world cruise for the first time in six years.

The ship, Seven Seas Navigator, will push away from the dock in Miami on January 5, 2017 and take 128 nights to go around the world.

From Florida, the Navigator will cruise the Caribbean before making its way to the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal. Then she will make calls at several Central American coastal cities and sail along Mexico’s Baja coast before calling on San Diego and Los Angeles. After that, the ship heads to Hawaii, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Fiji and New Zealand, and exploration of the east and north coasts of Australia.

Then it’s on to Indonesia before sailing across the Java Sea and Indian Ocean to Singapore. Thailand is next, then cruising the Andaman Sea to Myanmar, followed byports of call in India.A northwestern passage across the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman through the Strait of Hormuz will bring the ship to the United Arab Emirates, then on to Oman, through the Gulf of Aden and into the Red Sea to call on Jordan, Israel and Egypt.

The final part of the cruise will take passengers to Cyprus, Greece and Turkey. After cruising the Dardanelles, it will return to Greece before taking the Messina Strait to Italy, Monaco, France and Spain in the Mediterranean, then head home to Miami.

Bookings for the 2017 World Cruise opened yesterday. If you reserve your suite by October 1, you can take advantage of fares starting at $54,999 per person.You are able to book segments (as you will see on the website) but if you take the full cruise the following is included:

There are plenty of female captains flying jumbo jets around the world…now we one at the helm of a major cruise ship. Celebrity Cruises said Kate McCue will become the line’s first female captain and first American woman to captain a ship at a major cruise line, when she takes over the Summit. McCue, 37, is not new to the bridge, having moved over from Royal Caribbean, where she became a Master Mariner.

All for now.

For a weekly newsletter from Ports and Bows with lots of cruise information and the best deals that we can find, click here to sign up: www.canada.com/newsletter.

]]>http://o.canada.com/travel/ports-and-bows/around-the-world-on-seven-seas-navigator/feed0NavigatorphilreimerJustin Houston’s mega deal leads franchise players who sign long-term contracts by deadlinehttp://o.canada.com/sports/justin-houstons-mega-deal-leads-franchise-players-who-sign-long-term-contracts-by-deadline
http://o.canada.com/sports/justin-houstons-mega-deal-leads-franchise-players-who-sign-long-term-contracts-by-deadline#commentsThu, 16 Jul 2015 02:30:06 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684085&preview_id=684085]]>ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Kansas City Chiefs ended up with a big bargain the last time they signed Justin Houston. This time, it’s the star linebacker who’s cashing in.

Houston became the highest-paid linebacker in NFL history Wednesday when he agreed to a six-year, $101 million contract, over half of which is guaranteed, hours before the Wednesday deadline for players who had franchise tags to sign long-term deals.

“I want to be known as one of the best to ever play the game, that’s my motivation, I just want to be great at what I do,” Houston said after signing a contract that was more than 30 times the value of his rookie contract.

Star receivers Dez Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys and Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos both agreed to a five-year, $70 million contracts just before the deadline.

Patriots kicker Stephen Gostowksi’s agent also was working on a last-minute deal that would replace his $4.56 million franchise tag.

The New York Giants, however, did not pursue a long-term deal with Jason Pierre-Paul after the star defensive end injured his right hand in a July 4 fireworks accident. A person close to the situation told The Associated Press, however, that the Giants have not rescinded their $14.8 million franchise tag offer to Pierre-Paul.

Houston has made three consecutive Pro Bowls and was the key to Kansas City’s front-seven dominance last year when he broke Derrick Thomas’s franchise record with 22 sacks and came within a half sack of Michael Strahan’s NFL single-season record.

Houston was considered one of the top linebackers in the draft coming out of Georgia, but a failed test for marijuana at the scouting combine caused his stock to slide. The Chiefs wound up taking him in the third round, in retrospect a massive bargain.

He has made roughly $3 million over the course of his rookie contract. For that small price, Kansas City got 200 tackles, 48 1/2 sacks and five fumble recoveries.

His reward is the richest contract in franchise history.

“Once you get paid, it’s not like you won the lottery,” Houston insisted. “You still have work to do. You can still get better each and every day, so that’s my goal.”

In some ways, Houston just hit the jackpot.

His new deal includes $52.5 million guaranteed, a person familiar with the terms told The AP. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because terms were not disclosed by the team.

Had he not reached an agreement on a long-term deal, Houston still would have more than quadrupled his career earnings, playing on a one-year deal worth about $13.1 million.

Thomas signed the richest contract in Broncos history, which includes $43.5 million guaranteed. Bryant’s deal included $45 million guaranteed.

Although Thomas had said he’d play on the $12.8 million franchise tag if he had to “and then I’d just go try to win the Super Bowl,” Bryant had threatened to skip training camp and regular-season games without a long-term contract.

His deal ended the contract-related drama that filled the off-season for the Cowboys. First they decided not to match Philadelphia’s offer on running back DeMarco Murray in free agency and let the NFL rushing leader go to one of their division rivals.

So they couldn’t afford not to have Bryant, who has more catches (381), yards (5,424) and touchdowns (56) through five years than any receiver in franchise history — a list that includes Hall of Famers Michael Irvin and Bob Hayes.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/justin-houstons-mega-deal-leads-franchise-players-who-sign-long-term-contracts-by-deadline/feed0Justin Houston, Dontari PoetheassociatedpresscanadaCanada eclipses 2011 gold-medal count in just five days at 2015 Pan Am Gameshttp://o.canada.com/sports/canada-eclipses-2011-gold-medal-count-in-just-five-days-at-2015-pan-am-games
http://o.canada.com/sports/canada-eclipses-2011-gold-medal-count-in-just-five-days-at-2015-pan-am-games#commentsThu, 16 Jul 2015 01:34:46 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684093&preview_id=684093]]>TORONTO — It took just five days of competition at the 2015 Pan American Games for Canada to eclipse its gold-medal total from four years ago.

Canadian athletes won six more gold medals in Wednesday’s morning and afternoon events, giving the host nation 31 overall.

Canada won 30 total gold medals over 16 days at the 2011 Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Halifax gymnast Ellie Black and Canada’s rowing team contributed multiple gold medals Wednesday, while Calgary shooter Lynda Kiejko won her second gold of the Games.

Black won gold in the women’s balance beam competition and the floor exercise, giving her five medals in five events.

Black nailed her balance-beam routine with a score of 15.050 at the highest difficulty level. After her floor exercise routine that got her a score of 14.400, she blew kisses to the crowd at Ricoh Coliseum as fans roared and waved Canadian flags.

Earlier in the Games, the 19-year-old won gold in the all-around, bronze in the vault and helped Canada earn silver in the team event.

“This was more than I expected, this has been incredible,” Black said. “The support here has been amazing. I was so proud of our team coming in silver and individually in my finals, I was not expecting half of this. So thank you to everyone.”

Kevin Lytwyn of Stoney Creek, Ont., won silver in the men’s horizontal bar with a score of 15.475 and Victoria Woo of Brossard, Que., won bronze on the women’s balance beam at 13.650.

Canada earned a medal in four of five races, including three gold, on the final day of rowing competition at the Royal Canadian Henley course in St. Catharines, Ont. The men’s lightweight coxless fours, the men’s eight and the women’s quadruple sculls all topped the podium, while Rob Gibson of Kingston, Ont., added a silver in men’s single sculls.

The men’s eights led from start to finish, finishing three seconds ahead of Argentina with a time of six minutes 7.01 seconds.

The eights crew included all four members of the gold-medal-winning men’s coxless four from earlier in the meet.

“We all agreed there’s no way we could stand on that podium and listen to any other anthem with our fans, family and friends there,” said Conlin McCabe of Brockville, Ont. “The whole regatta was going to be a failure to us if we didn’t win the eights, even though we had won the fours and quad already.”

Kate Goodfellow of Perth, Ont., Kerry Shaffer of nearby Welland, Ont., Carling Zeeman of Cambridge, Ont., and Antje Von Seydlitz of Smithers, B.C., won the quad sculls in 7:07.63, more than eight seconds ahead of the U.S. who won silver in 7:16.26.

“The wind was pretty strong today so the start and first half of the race was pretty rough and I think it just came down to who handled it the best,” said Goodfellow.

Maxwell Lattimer and Brendan Hodge, both from South Delta, B.C., Nicolas Pratt of Kingston, and Eric Woelfl of St. Catharines won the men’s lightweight coxless fours.

“This is our boat for the whole summer so it’s another stepping stone in how we’re forming as a crew,” said Pratt.

Kiejko swept the women’s pistol events with a win in the women’s 25-metres.

The Calgary native beat Sandra Uptagrafft 7-3 in the final round to earn Canada’s third shooting gold of the Games.

Kiejko also won gold in the women’s 10-metre air pistol on Sunday.

“I don’t think words can actually describe how excited and just ecstatic I am right now,” she said. “I was coming into this event with it not being my forte. I have no words. I am over the moon right now.”

Smith, from Kelowna, B.C., won gold in a Pan Am record time of two minutes 24.38 seconds.

Toronto’s McCabe finished 0.13 seconds back to take silver.

Annie Lazor of the United States finished third in 2:26.23.

Earlier, Emily Overholt of West Vancouver, B.C., won silver in the women’s 200 freestyle in 1:57.55, 1.32 seconds behind Allison Schmitt of the U.S.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/canadas-smith-mccabe-finish-1-2-in-womens-200-breaststroke-at-pan-am-games/feed0Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games - Day 5thecanadianpressAlouettes rookie Rakeem Cato looking to spread the ball around against tough Ticatshttp://o.canada.com/sports/alouettes-rookie-rakeem-cato-looking-to-spread-the-ball-around-against-tough-ticats
http://o.canada.com/sports/alouettes-rookie-rakeem-cato-looking-to-spread-the-ball-around-against-tough-ticats#commentsWed, 15 Jul 2015 22:10:37 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684078&preview_id=684078]]>MONTREAL — Rakeem Cato says he doesn’t intentionally throw to S.J. Green a lot, it just works out that way.

The Montreal Alouettes rookie quarterback, who will make his third CFL start Thursday night against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Percival Molson Stadium, went to Green often and with great success in a 25-23 loss in Winnipeg last week. Green picked up 180 yards to take the league lead with 285 receiving yards.

“I love all the guys,” Cato said this week. “We’re trying to become family.

“As far as me having picks (favourites), I think all the receivers are great. It’s not a special relationship. The only thing is we’re both from Florida and we understand each other that way. But as far as football, S.J. does a great job of understanding the game and he’s a great wideout.”

Green has more yards than the next two Montreal (1-2) receivers combined, Nik Lewis (138) and Fred Stamps (62).

“Cato’s taught to throw the ball to the open man,” said Green. “My mentality is to get open as often as I can.”

The 23-year-old Cato, who inherited the job when starter Jonathan Crompton and backup Dan Lefevour were both injured in the opening game of the regular season, is confident things will even out as he gets used to the CFL game and settles in as a starter.

The six-foot 180-pound Cato has been impressive in his first two games, completing 42 of 56 passes (75 per cent) for 558 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Throwing to Green, one of the league’s top receivers the last seven years, is only natural. But Green has also become a mentor off the field, helping his fellow Floridan adjust to a new league and a new city that Cato compared to Miami because it is “fast.”

“Miami is a very fast city,” said Green. “It is different and Montreal’s also different and diverse, so there are similarities there, too.

“We do spend time together outside of football and we do talk a lot. Being from the state of Florida, we have a lot of similarities in our upbringing and how we view life, so we can relate to each other and we can communicate. It helps him become more comfortable.”

Cato will face a major test in the Tiger-Cats (1-1), who like to bring big pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Hamilton is coming off a bye week after a 52-26 romp over the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg on July 4.

The Ticats’ Emanuel Davis and Brandon Stewart each returned an interception for a touchdown.

Last week, Cato was picked off twice, including one that was run back for a TD. That and a blocked punt that went for a touchdown was the difference in a game in which Montreal had the advantage on both sides of the ball.

The Montreal special teams will also have their hands full with Brandon Banks, who has returned a punt for a TD in each of Hamilton’s first two games.

“Someone asked me how we’re going to handle the punt returner and I said ‘we’re just not going to punt the football,’ ” said coach Tom Higgins. “That’s the choice.

“The reality is you average seven to nine punts a game and you can’t punt them all out of bounds. Covering punts is going to be big.”

The Alouettes will try to take some pressure off Cato by running the ball, which they have done successfully this season. Tyrell Sutton leads the league with 50 carries for 278 yards and he will have Brandon Rutley as a backup.

The Ticats have surrendered the fewest rushing yards per game at 74.5.

The Denver Broncos’ star wide receiver signed a five-year, $70 million contract just before the deadline Wednesday.

It’s the richest contract in franchise history and includes $43.5 million guaranteed.

Had the sides not hammered out a deal, Thomas would have played this season under the $12,823,000 franchise tag, which still would have been about as much as he’d made in his first five seasons combined.

“Thrilled to reach a long-term deal with Demaryius,” general manager John Elway tweeted. “He is one of the NFL’s top WRs & will continue to be a big part of the Broncos’ success!!”

That was a far different tone than the last time Elway spoke publicly about Peyton Manning’s top target.

It was just before the draft and Elway was asked about Thomas boycotting the team’s off-season program, his only perceived leverage under the franchise tag designation.

Wanting Thomas on hand as new coach Gary Kubiak installed his offence, Elway fumed then, “there’s zero value in him not being here.”

That was about as unpleasant as things got, however.

The negotiations never really got nasty. Manning said sure, he’d prefer Thomas show up but he also wanted him to get every penny he had coming. Teammates good-naturedly photoshopped Thomas into their pictures. And Kubiak had his video department send Thomas the new playbook and clips of practice to keep him up to speed.

The total value of Thomas’ deal is similar to the one Dallas Cowboys All-Pro receiver Dez Bryant signed Wednesday.

Earlier this year, Thomas told The Associated Press he wasn’t interested in using Bryant as a barometer for his own contract, insisting, “I’m just trying to get what I think I deserve. I don’t worry about no other player.”

Thomas told The AP this spring he also didn’t think his absence from the off-season program would hamper his timing with Manning, suggesting their three years together gave him confidence “we can pick up where we left off” whenever he signed his deal.

By signing Thomas, the Broncos won’t have to worry about him being a no-show when camp training camp starts in two weeks. Nor will they go into the 2016 off-season with two superstars entering free agency. Linebacker Von Miller, barring an extension, will be up for a mega deal after the 2015 season.

Thomas set career highs with 111 catches for 1,619 yards — a franchise record — in 2014, when he scored 11 times. Since Manning’s arrival in Denver in 2012, Thomas has caught 297 passes for 4,483 yards and 35 TDs.

In that three-year span, Thomas has ranked first in the league in yards receiving, second to Antonio Brown in catches and second to Dallas’ Bryant in touchdowns while making the Pro Bowl each year.

The deal with the All-Pro receiver broke a stalemate that lasted months and ended about an hour before the Wednesday deadline to get a multi-year deal done. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced, provided the terms to The Associated Press. The contract includes $45 million guaranteed for last year’s NFL leader in touchdowns receiving.

Bryant had threatened to skip training camp and regular-season games without a contract to replace the $12.8 million offer for one year he had under the franchise tag.

Now the Cowboys can focus on defending their NFC East title and trying to make a deeper playoff run after one that ended on Bryant’s much-debated catch that wasn’t in a divisional-round loss to Green Bay.

The deal ended the contract-related drama that filled the off-season for the Cowboys. First they decided not to match Philadelphia’s offer on running back DeMarco Murray in free agency and let the NFL rushing leader go to one of their division rivals.

Then the focus turned to Bryant, who scored 16 times last season and has the most touchdowns receiving in the league since 2010, when Dallas drafted him late in the first round after his stock fell over concerns about off-the-field issues.

Bryant would occasionally use Twitter to express frustration over not having what he thought was a suitable offer. The most pointed threat came Monday, when he tweeted he would “not be there if no deal,” clearly a reference to training camp coming up in two weeks. Bryant had already said he would consider missing games, at a cost of about $750,000 each time he didn’t play.

Before the long-term deal got done, Dallas couldn’t fine Bryant for missing off-season workouts and camp practices because he hadn’t signed the guaranteed $12.8 million tender. Bryant didn’t practice all spring, but did show up from time to time. That included the final mandatory minicamp workout, when he had a 15-minute conversation with owner Jerry Jones.

Because of those appearances, the Cowboys were gambling that the passionate Bryant simply wouldn’t be able to stay away once games started. Now Dallas doesn’t have to worry about it.

The Cowboys believed they could let Murray walk because they’ve assembled one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, bolstered by three first-round picks in the past five drafts. The last of those, Zack Martin, was the first rookie All-Pro for Dallas since Calvin Hill in 1969.

But the prospect of playing without Bryant was more daunting for Dallas. He has more catches (381), yards (5,424) and touchdowns (56) through five years than any receiver in franchise history — a list that includes Hall of Famers Michael Irvin and Bob Hayes.

The most accomplished receiver behind Bryant is Terrance Williams, who has 81 grabs for 1,357 yards and 13 TDs in two seasons.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/cowboys-dez-bryant-agree-to-five-year-70m-deal-source/feed0Cowboys-Dez-Bryant-Football.jpgtheassociatedpresscanadaTeam Sky escorts Chris Froome to keep Tour de France lead, Rafal Majka wins Stage 11http://o.canada.com/sports/team-sky-escorts-chris-froome-to-keep-tour-de-france-lead-rafal-majka-wins-stage-11
http://o.canada.com/sports/team-sky-escorts-chris-froome-to-keep-tour-de-france-lead-rafal-majka-wins-stage-11#commentsWed, 15 Jul 2015 20:54:41 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684034&preview_id=684034]]>CAUTERETS, France — Rafal Majka led a solo breakaway to win the 11th stage of the Tour de France under a scorching sun on Wednesday, leaving behind a small group of rivals on the hardest climb of Day 2 in the Pyrenees mountains as Chris Froome easily retained the yellow jersey.

The stage victory by Majka, a Pole who won twice on last year’s Tour, provided a lift for a Tinkoff Saxo Bank team whose leader, two-time Tour winner Alberto Contador, has been struggling in this year’s race. Tinkoff Saxo became the seventh squad to win a stage this year in a sign of well-distributed honours in a race otherwise dominated by Froome’s powerful Team Sky.

“I like this weather when it’s really hot. Many others suffer, but I prefer this to rain,” Majka said. “I think that to be a climber, you have to be born a climber … I like long ascents like this.”

The 25-year-old Majka presented little threat to Froome. He had begun the 188-kilometre stage from Pau to Cauterets more than 44 1/2 minutes behind the British race leader. Froome finished more than five minutes back along with the other pre-race favourites.

Majka, who last year took home the polka dot jersey awarded to the race’s best climber, burst out of a breakaway bunch on the way up the Tourmalet pass — the highest and most frequently visited Tour peak in the Pyrenees — and was the first over it. For that achievement, he won a 5,000 euro ($5,500) prize awarded in honour of a former Tour race director.

The day’s results had little impact on the overall standings, a day after a superior Froome impressed his main rivals by winning Stage 10, which featured a tough uphill finish. He leads Tejay van Garderen of the United States, who is second, by 2 minutes, 52 seconds while Nairo Quintana of Colombia is third, 3:09 back. Contador is sixth, 4:04 off the Briton’s pace.

Froome’s lead after 10 stages was the biggest at this phase of the race since at least 2006 — the year after Lance Armstrong won his last Tour before his seven titles were stripped for doping throughout his career.

Froome played down talk about the race already being all but over, telling French TV before the stage: “A bad day in the mountains and three minutes can disappear.”

The Briton and his Sky team made sure that Wednesday wouldn’t be that bad day.

Defending Tour champion Vincenzo Nibali trailed more than five minutes behind Majka, like Froome and the other title hopefuls. Showering himself from a water bottle in the heat, Nibali sought to salvage some honour after he all but fell out of contention in Tuesday’s entree into the Pyrenees.

He was briefly at the front of a small lead bunch, before Sky regained control. Leading Sky’s train was Australia’s Richie Porte, wearing a Cheshire-cat smile as he panted up the climb.

A seven-rider breakaway including Majka led the way over the day’s first hard climb, the Aspin pass. Among them were Dan Martin, an Irish rider with Cannondale-Garmin who won a Tour stage in this region two years ago, and France’s Thomas Voeckler — a four-time Tour stage winner who won the polka dot jersey in 2012.

Many seasoned race observers say it will take nearly a miracle for Froome’s main rivals to topple him before the race ends on Paris’ Champs-Elysees on July 26.

Appropriately enough, Stage 11 took the pack into the Roman Catholic shrine town of Lourdes, made famous because of a peasant girl’s visions of the Virgin Mary over 150 years ago. These days, millions of Catholics visit the town every year.

Livestock on the sunbaked, grassy mountainsides offered their own hazards for the speeding racers.

France’s Warren Barguil had to gingerly veer to the edge of the road on the fast downhill route from the Tourmalet as a pair of cows meandered across the road.

Thursday’s finale in the Pyrenees offers more punishment, with a 195-kilometre trek from Lannemezan to the Plateau de Beille ski resort, featuring another uphill finish.

The veteran defenceman has signed a $7.5-million US, two-year contract with the Dallas Stars.

Oduya will count $3.75 million against the salary cap through the 2016-17 season.

The two-time Stanley Cup-winner with the Chicago Blackhawks was considered among the best free agents still available.

The 33-year-old Swede replaces Trevor Daley on the Stars’ blue line that also includes Alex Goligoski, John Klingberg and Jason Demers.

Dallas traded Daley to the Blackhawks in the Patrick Sharp deal.

Oduya has played 664 NHL games for the New Jersey Devils, Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets and Blackhawks.

“Johnny is a steady, veteran presence on the blue line and he’ll complement our group nicely,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “He has achieved a great deal of success, winning the Stanley Cup twice, and his championship-mentality will be valuable in our room.”

Oduya’s deal includes a modified no-trade clause.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/veteran-defenceman-johnny-oduya-leaves-blackhawks-for-two-year-deal-with-stars/feed0Johnny OduyathecanadianpressCanadian rowers win three golds, one silver at Pan Am Gameshttp://o.canada.com/sports/canadian-rowers-win-three-golds-one-silver-at-pan-am-games
http://o.canada.com/sports/canadian-rowers-win-three-golds-one-silver-at-pan-am-games#commentsWed, 15 Jul 2015 19:11:30 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684021&preview_id=684021]]>ST. CATHARINES, Ont. — Canada’s rowers have won three more golds and a silver at the Pan American Games.

The Canadian men’s eight crew, men’s lightweight four and women’s quad sculls all won their events Wednesday, while Rob Gibson of Kingston, Ont., won a silver in the men’s single sculls.

The results pushed Canada’s medal total in rowing at the Games to 11 — eight gold, one silver and two bronze.

Canada’s Kerry Shaffer, from left, Kate Goodfellow, Carling Zeeman and Antje Von Seydlitz pose for photographers with their gold medals earned in the women’s quadruple sculls rowing event at the Pan Am Games on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in St. Catharines, Ont. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) []

Canada’s men’s eight crew led from start to finish, winning with a time of six minutes 7.01 seconds.

Argentina won silver in 6:10.08 and the United States took the bronze in 6:12.64.

Canada’s Eric Woelfl, from left, Nicolas Pratt, Brendan Hodge and Maxwell Lattimer celebrate before being awarded their gold medals in the in the men’s lightweight coxless four rowing event at the Pan Am Games on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in St. Catharines, Ont. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) []

Earlier, Kate Goodfellow of London, Ont., Kerry Shaffer of Welland, Ont., Carling Zeeman of Cambridge, Ont. and Antje Von Seydlitz of Smithers, B.C. were almost nine seconds ahead of the rest of the field, finishing in 7:07.63 in women’s quad sculls.

The United States won silver in 7:16.26 and Argentina took bronze in 7:18.09.

Canada’s Rob Gibson celebrates after winning the silver medal in the men’s single sculls at the 2015 Pan Am Games on the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course in St. Catharines, Ont., on Wednesday, July 15, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Lynett []

Maxwell Lattimer of Delta, B.C., Brendan Hodge of South Delta, B.C., Nicolas Pratt of Kingston and Eric Woelfl of St. Catharines, Ont., won the lightweight four in 6:42.40, more than four seconds ahead of the U.S. Chile was third.

In the single sculls, Cuba’s Angel Fournier finished more than six seconds ahead of the pack to win gold in 7:51.39. Gibson was second with a time of 7:57.94, with Brian Rosso of Argentina taking the bronze.

]]>http://o.canada.com/sports/canadian-rowers-win-three-golds-one-silver-at-pan-am-games/feed0Julien Bahain, Mike Evans, Will Dean, Martin Barakso, Tim SchrijverthecanadianpressCanada's Kerry Shaffer, from left, Kate Goodfellow, Carling Zeeman and Antje Von Seydlitz pose for photographers with their gold medals earned in the women's quadruple sculls rowing event at the Pan Am Games on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in St. Catherines, Ont. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)Canada's Eric Woelfl, from left, Nicolas Pratt, Brendan Hodge and Maxwell Lattimer celebrate before being awarded their gold medals in the in the men's lightweight coxless four rowing event at the Pan Am Games on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in St. Catherines, Ont. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)Canada's Rob Gibson celebrates after winning the silver medal in the men's single sculls at the 2015 Pan Am Games on the Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course in St. Catharines, Ont., on Wednesday, July 15, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron LynettCanada’s Ellie Black wins gold in balance beam, fourth medal of Pan Am Gameshttp://o.canada.com/sports/canadas-ellie-black-wins-gold-in-balance-beam-fourth-medal-of-pan-am-games
http://o.canada.com/sports/canadas-ellie-black-wins-gold-in-balance-beam-fourth-medal-of-pan-am-games#commentsWed, 15 Jul 2015 19:01:34 +0000https://postmediacanadadotcom.wordpress.com?p=684020&preview_id=684020]]>TORONTO — Canada’s Ellie Black has added another medal to her haul at the Pan Am Games.

Black won gold in the women’s balance beam competition Wednesday.

The 19-year-old Halifax native previously won gold in the all-around, bronze in the vault and helped Canada earn silver in the team event.

Black, who nailed her balance beam routine at the highest difficulty level, has a medal to show for each of her past four days of competition.

Canada’s Victoria Woo won the bronze medal, while Megan Skaggs of the United States took the silver.

Black has the floor exercise also coming Wednesday afternoon with an opportunity to medal in all five of her artistic gymnastics events.